Accidents are a common occurrence among the military population, with a higher frequency compared to civilians (Ministry of Defence, 2014; 2018). Military personnel face a greater risk of death due to accidents such as land transport accidents when compared to the general population (Defence Statistics, 2015; Ministry of Defence, 2017). Research indicates that certain groups within the military, such as those with anxiety, PTSD, engaging in risky behaviors, and misusing drugs or alcohol while dealing with trauma, are at a higher risk of experiencing accidental death (Lewandowski-Romps et al., 2018; Chui et al., 2023; Shipherd et al., 2005; Bray et al., 2008).
However, previous studies have not extensively examined the prevalence of non-fatal accidents among the UK military population. This study by Chui et al. (2023) aims to fill this gap by investigating the association between mental health issues, alcohol misuse, smoking, and hospital admissions for accidents and injuries in a representative sample of UK military personnel.
Methods:
A UK military cohort study was linked with electronic secondary healthcare records for hospital admissions in England, Wales, and Scotland. Data was collected during Phase 2 of the cohort study (2007-2009) and outcomes were reported until March 2014. Information on demographic, pre-military, military, mental health, and health behavior factors were collected. Hospital admissions and A&E attendances were obtained from electronic healthcare records.
Results:
Among the top ten accidents and injuries, complications of medical and surgical care were the most frequent, with exposure to animate mechanical forces being the least common. The majority of participants who had no hospital admissions also did not have common mental health disorders but reported alcohol misuse.
Conclusion:
This study sheds light on the relationship between mental health issues, alcohol use, and smoking with hospital admissions for accidents and injuries among military personnel. Findings suggest that individuals with mental health problems or smoking habits are at a higher risk of experiencing accidents or injuries. These incidents are not random occurrences and are often associated with factors such as poor mental health.
Strengths and limitations:
The study benefits from a large sample size of over 8,000 participants. However, limitations include the reliance on self-reported data and the potential for unmeasured confounding factors.
