Non-Battle Injuries in Military Settings: Impacts on Health-Related Quality of Life and Service Capability.

BACKGROUND

Non-battle injuries significantly impact military readiness and individuals' quality of life, yet research on their effects on soldiers remains inadequate.

OBJECTIVE

This study examines relationships between non-battle injury characteristics, perceptions, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and service capability in the Israel Defense Forces.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study assesses relationships between injury characteristics, perception, HRQOL, and service capability among active duty soldiers at an Israel Defense Forces clinic over 12 months (February 2023-February 2024).

RESULTS

Among 85 participants, predominant injuries occurred from falls/jumps (30.6%) and sports/training (23.5%), mainly affecting lower limbs (44.7%), upper limbs (24.7%), and back/spine (11.8%). Primary diagnoses included blunt contusions (20%) and fractures (18.8%). Lower-limb injuries were associated with mobility difficulty, upper-limb injuries with self-care difficulty, and blunt contusions with improved HRQOL. Injury perception was negatively correlated with HRQOL, while penetrating injuries, particularly open cuts/wounds, were linked to reduced military service capability.

CONCLUSION

This first comprehensive analysis of non-battle injuries in the Israel Defense Forces reveals key associations between injury characteristics, perceptions, HRQOL, and service capability. Findings highlight the need for early detection and targeted intervention to preserve soldiers' well-being and performance.