Anxiety Mood.  2019 Oct;15(2):115-121. 10.24986/anxmod.2019.15.2.115.

Prevalence of Emotional Distress and Related Factors of Orthopedic Surgical Patients in a Military Hospital : A Cross-sectional Feasibility Study

• Oh IM
• Hong M
• Lee SY
• Yoon GH
• Lee H
• Kim MJ
• Kim HM
• Lee SD

• KMID: 2464997
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.24986/anxmod.2019.15.2.115

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate prevalence of psychiatric symptoms and determine predictors of emotional distress of military hospital surgical patients.
METHODS
This study examined 104 orthopedic patients admitted to the Armed Forces Military Hospital September-November 2018. For the study, every subject completed self-assessment inventories regarding depressive and anxiety symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), sleep problems (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), problematic alcohol and tobacco use (Cut off, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener screening), and psychiatric history. We performed the Student's t-test and the chi-square test for the collected data to investigate the prevalence of psychiatric symptoms, including emotional distress. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the risk factors related to emotional distress of hospitalized military personnel.
RESULTS
There were no significant differences in socio-demographic and psychiatric symptoms between soldiers and officers. The prevalence of depressive and/or anxiety symptoms (emotional distress) was 21.2% (n=21). In the logistic regression analysis, psychiatric history [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR)=18.99 ; 95% Confidence Interval (CI)=1.42-253.57 ; p=0.026] and low military life satisfaction (AOR=15.67; 95% CI=1.46-168.11 ; p=0.023) correlated with emotional distress.
CONCLUSION
Soldiers admitted to the military hospital showed similar prevalence of emotional distress as those at general hospitals. Considering military circumstances, it is necessary to detect and intervene regarding soldiers with a psychiatric history and low military life satisfaction to promote mental health at military hospitals.

Keyword

Prevalence; Risk factor; Depressive symptom; Anxiety symptom; Emotional distress; Sleep problem

MeSH Terms

Anxiety
Arm
Depression
Equipment and Supplies
Feasibility Studies*
Hospitals, General
Hospitals, Military*
Humans
Logistic Models
Mental Health
Military Personnel*
Odds Ratio
Orthopedics*
Prevalence*
Risk Factors
Self-Assessment
Tobacco Use