King's College London, London, UK.
BMJ Open. 2019 Jul 16;9(7):e028189. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-028189.
Military veterans often experience physical health problems in later life; however, it remains unclear whether these problems are due to military service or are a feature of the ageing process. This study aimed to explore veteran and non-veteran perceptions of the impact of their occupation on their physical well-being later in life.
Semi-structured qualitative interviews analysed using thematic analysis.
Interviews were conducted face-to-face in participants' homes or via telephone.
35 veterans (≥65 years), 25 non-veterans (≥65 years) were recruited, as well as a close companion of all participants for triangulation (n=60).
Most veterans reported good physical health later in life which they attributed to the fitness they developed during military service. However, several veterans described challenges in maintaining their desired level of physically activity due to new commitments and limited sports facilities when they left service. Fewer non-veterans had experienced work-related fitness activities or exercise in their civilian jobs. Ongoing physical health difficulties, such as deafness, were perceived to be due to exposure to workplace hazards and appeared more common in veterans compared with non-veterans. Veterans also described greater reluctance than non-veterans to seek medical treatment for physical health difficulties, which could be challenging for close companions who had to provide informal care.
Military service was largely perceived to be beneficial for physical well-being; although when occupation-related physical health problems were experienced, many veterans were unwilling to seek treatment. These findings may inform clinicians of the needs of older veterans and highlight potential barriers to care.
退伍军人在晚年常常会经历身体健康问题；然而，这些问题究竟是由于服役经历还是衰老过程的特征所致，目前仍不清楚。本研究旨在探讨退伍军人和非退伍军人对其职业对晚年身体健康影响的看法。
采用主题分析对半结构式定性访谈进行分析。
在参与者的家中或通过电话进行面对面访谈。
招募了 35 名退伍军人（≥65 岁）、25 名非退伍军人（≥65 岁），以及所有参与者的一位亲密同伴（n=60）用于三角验证。
大多数退伍军人报告称晚年身体健康状况良好，他们将这归因于在军队服役期间培养的健康体魄。然而，一些退伍军人描述了由于新的承诺和服务结束时有限的体育设施，他们难以保持自己想要的身体活动水平。较少的非退伍军人在其平民工作中有过与工作相关的健身活动或锻炼经历。持续的身体健康困难，如耳聋，被认为是由于工作场所的危害所致，而且在退伍军人中比非退伍军人更为常见。退伍军人也比非退伍军人更不愿意因身体健康问题寻求医疗治疗，这对不得不提供非正式护理的亲密同伴来说可能是一个挑战。
兵役在很大程度上被认为对身体健康有益；尽管出现与职业相关的身体健康问题时，许多退伍军人不愿意接受治疗。这些发现可能会让临床医生了解老年退伍军人的需求，并突出潜在的护理障碍。
