| Abstract |
The aim of the present thesis is to investigate and analyze the use of primary health care services in a Greek warship, and to assess the health problems and needs of warship personnel. This study was carried out on a destroyer of the Hellenic Navy, between February and July 1998. The study population included the warship's military personnel (n = 285 men), aged between 19-38 years (mean age: 24.4 ± 4.4 years). 46.7% of these were conscripts (seamen, petty officers 1st and 3rd class), 85% single (never married or divorced) and 75% of a medium educational level (unfinished or completed secondary school education). In this study, the causes of the visits to sick-bay and the most common medical problems identified by the naval medical officer, the use of legal and illegal drugs, some risk factors for cardiovascular disease, the mental health status and vaccine coverage, hepatitis A, B and C markers, iron deficiency anemia and β-thalassaemia, and finally the accidents (injuries) among the personnel were analyzed. Standardization forms of the University of Crete (as suitable -card of health-), scales (as GHQ-28), processes (as vaccine coverage), and codifications (as ICD-9 for diagnoses) were used. SPSS (version 10.0) was used for data processing and statistical analysis. Statistical significance was set at the probability level p<0.05. The main results of the study were as follows: i. The most common causes of visits to the sick bay were symptoms, signs and ill-defined conditions, diseases of the respiratory system, and injuries, according to the ICD-9. ii. A percentage of 59.5% of participants were current smokers who had began the habit between the ages of 15-21 years (mean age: 18.2 ± 2.6 years). Among these smokers, 42.3% smoked a number of 11-20 cigarettes per day, and 33.1% had began the habit after entering the Navy. There were statistically significant differences between the mean age of the population at the beginning of smoking and the number of cigarettes smoked daily or the educational level. Also, there were statistically significant differences between the habit of smoking and the occurrence of respiratory tract infections, the alcohol consumption, the educational level and the lack of aerobic exercise during leisure time. The method of entry into the Greek Navy and the rank held had a significant contribution to the time period of initiation into the habit of smoking. 56.9% of the participants reported alcohol consumption, and only seven conscripts used hashish. iii. 14.2% (39 men) of the participants had in total three cardiovascular risk factors, and 3.6% (10 men) had above three. iv. A high prevalence (48.8%) of GHQ-28 cases was found among the personnel of the warship. There were significant differences between the GHQ-28 cases and the rank, marital status or educational level of personnel. v. Insufficiencies were found on mandatory vaccinations except BCG and TOPV. vi. 12.5% had developed titles anti-HBs >100IU/L. None was found to be positive for HAV antibodies, three persons (1.1%) were positive for HBsAg, four persons (1.5%) were positive for anti-HBc and one person (0.4%) was positive for anti-HCV. Anemia, as iron deficiency and as β-thalassaemia (heterozygous form), was diagnosed in 4.2% of participants. vii. The total incidence of injuries was 1.58 per 100 man-months. These findings could be useful for the determination of suitable medical aims, the design of health interventions, and the health promotion and maintenance activities in warships population.
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Μελέτη χρήσης ιατρικών υπηρεσιών και εκτίμηση αναγκών υγείας σε πολεμικό πλοίο
