Evaluation of health behaviours of Polish Army soldiers in relation to demographic factors, body weight and type of Armed Forces
Objectives The aim of this article is to assess the health behaviors of Polish Army soldiers participating in the National Health Programme 2016–2020 in relation to types of armed forces, BMI and selected demographic factors. Material and Methods Anthropometric and questionnaire data were obtained...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine
2023-04-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://ijomeh.eu/Evaluation-of-health-behaviours-of-Polish-Army-soldiers-in-relation-to-demographic,160083,0,2.html |
| _version_ | 1797539304909570048 |
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| author | Agata Gaździńska Paulina Baran Marta Turczyńska Paweł Jagielski |
| author_facet | Agata Gaździńska Paulina Baran Marta Turczyńska Paweł Jagielski |
| author_sort | Agata Gaździńska |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objectives
The aim of this article is to assess the health behaviors of Polish Army soldiers participating in the National Health Programme 2016–2020
in relation to types of armed forces, BMI and selected demographic factors.
Material and Methods
Anthropometric and questionnaire data were
obtained in a group of 1229 soldiers of the Polish Armed Forces (PAF) from military units from all over Poland. Health behaviors patterns were
assessed using the Health Behavior Inventory (HBI), developed by Juczyński.
Results
The HBI of PAF soldiers was 79.9±12.68, indicating an aver-
age score. Statistically significant differences were found in the HBI values and in the individual categories of health behaviors according to the type
of armed forces. The highest scores in each category of health behaviors were obtained by the Air Force (AF) soldiers. The lowest HBI score was
obtained by the Land Forces and Territorial Defence Forces soldiers. Soldiers with higher education obtained significantly higher scores in such
health categories as proper eating habits, preventive behaviors and health practices, compared to respondents with secondary education. Soldiers
residing in cities had statistically significantly higher health behaviors intensities in all categories, compared to village residents. A significantly higher score in all health categories was noted in soldiers with normal body weight compared to those with diagnosed obesity. There was no significant relationship between the age of the respondents and health behaviors.
Conclusions
The study found that factors such as type of armed forces,
BMI, place of residence and education level were significant for the adoption of health behaviors by PAF. The level of health practices was significant-
ly higher among AF soldiers compared to other types of armed forces. It seems necessary to further disseminate education on pro-health behaviors, especially among soldiers with obesity through participation in organized training and psychodietetic consultations as part of the National Health Programme. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2023;36(4):437–49 |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:43:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-02614922df6b491d8048fcccfd2a54bd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1232-1087 1896-494X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:43:08Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-02614922df6b491d8048fcccfd2a54bd2023-11-21T13:39:18ZengNofer Institute of Occupational MedicineInternational Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health1232-10871896-494X2023-04-0136443744910.13075/ijomeh.1896.02114160083Evaluation of health behaviours of Polish Army soldiers in relation to demographic factors, body weight and type of Armed ForcesAgata Gaździńska0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9910-3445Paulina Baran1Marta Turczyńska2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6142-5382Paweł Jagielski3https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9233-1293Military Institute of Aviation Medicine, Warsaw, Poland (Laboratory of Dietetics and Obesity Treatment, Department of Psychophysiological Measurements and Human Factor Research)Military Institute of Aviation Medicine, Warsaw, Poland (Department of Psychophysiological Measurements and Human Factor Research)Military Institute of Aviation Medicine, Warsaw, Poland (Laboratory of Dietetics and Obesity Treatment, Department of Psychophysiological Measurements and Human Factor Research)Jagiellonian University, Medical College, Kraków, Poland (Department of Nutrition and Drug Research, Institute of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences)Objectives The aim of this article is to assess the health behaviors of Polish Army soldiers participating in the National Health Programme 2016–2020 in relation to types of armed forces, BMI and selected demographic factors. Material and Methods Anthropometric and questionnaire data were obtained in a group of 1229 soldiers of the Polish Armed Forces (PAF) from military units from all over Poland. Health behaviors patterns were assessed using the Health Behavior Inventory (HBI), developed by Juczyński. Results The HBI of PAF soldiers was 79.9±12.68, indicating an aver- age score. Statistically significant differences were found in the HBI values and in the individual categories of health behaviors according to the type of armed forces. The highest scores in each category of health behaviors were obtained by the Air Force (AF) soldiers. The lowest HBI score was obtained by the Land Forces and Territorial Defence Forces soldiers. Soldiers with higher education obtained significantly higher scores in such health categories as proper eating habits, preventive behaviors and health practices, compared to respondents with secondary education. Soldiers residing in cities had statistically significantly higher health behaviors intensities in all categories, compared to village residents. A significantly higher score in all health categories was noted in soldiers with normal body weight compared to those with diagnosed obesity. There was no significant relationship between the age of the respondents and health behaviors. Conclusions The study found that factors such as type of armed forces, BMI, place of residence and education level were significant for the adoption of health behaviors by PAF. The level of health practices was significant- ly higher among AF soldiers compared to other types of armed forces. It seems necessary to further disseminate education on pro-health behaviors, especially among soldiers with obesity through participation in organized training and psychodietetic consultations as part of the National Health Programme. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2023;36(4):437–49http://ijomeh.eu/Evaluation-of-health-behaviours-of-Polish-Army-soldiers-in-relation-to-demographic,160083,0,2.htmlobesitysoldiershealth behaviorspolish armyhealth-related behavior indexnational health programme |
| spellingShingle | Agata Gaździńska Paulina Baran Marta Turczyńska Paweł Jagielski Evaluation of health behaviours of Polish Army soldiers in relation to demographic factors, body weight and type of Armed Forces International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health obesity soldiers health behaviors polish army health-related behavior index national health programme |
| title | Evaluation of health behaviours of Polish Army soldiers in relation to demographic factors, body weight and type of Armed Forces |
| title_full | Evaluation of health behaviours of Polish Army soldiers in relation to demographic factors, body weight and type of Armed Forces |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of health behaviours of Polish Army soldiers in relation to demographic factors, body weight and type of Armed Forces |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of health behaviours of Polish Army soldiers in relation to demographic factors, body weight and type of Armed Forces |
| title_short | Evaluation of health behaviours of Polish Army soldiers in relation to demographic factors, body weight and type of Armed Forces |
| title_sort | evaluation of health behaviours of polish army soldiers in relation to demographic factors body weight and type of armed forces |
| topic | obesity soldiers health behaviors polish army health-related behavior index national health programme |
| url | http://ijomeh.eu/Evaluation-of-health-behaviours-of-Polish-Army-soldiers-in-relation-to-demographic,160083,0,2.html |
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