Physiological, Psychological and Cognitive Impact of Air Search and Rescue Missions
Overview
- Phase
- N/A
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic
- Sponsor
- Faculdade de Motricidade Humana
- Enrollment
- 60
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Change of heart rate variability
- Status
- Recruiting
- Last Updated
- 2 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
The purpose of this observational study is to understand and evaluate the physiological, psychological, and cognitive impact of 15 consecutive days of air search and rescue mission deployments on Portuguese Air Force crews. The main goals are: 1) Characterize and compare the body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, and strength levels of air force search and rescue mission crew members with different tasks; 2) Characterize the physiological, psychological and cognitive impacts induced by a single deployment; 3) Identify possible cumulative effects of successive deployments on the variables of interest; 3) Characterize the changes in lifestyle, quality of sleep and nutrition induced by the deployments. The participants will be evaluated after a period of hollidays, before missions, during missions, upon arrival, for a period of twelve months, and at the end of twelve months.
Detailed Description
Fatigue, especially in its mental and physical forms, impacts aviation performance and can result from sleep deprivation, prolonged wakefulness, changes in the circadian cycle and eating patterns, or excessive workload. The Air Force's multidisciplinary teams deployed to complex missions, where physical and mental demands are known to be different between each operational element, face the need for diligence and efficiency to avoid errors that could result in fatal consequences. Physical and mental recovery becomes crucial for optimal performance in missions that require precision, physical robustness and mental acuity. Furthermore, fatigue can have long-term health effects, associated with reduced work capacity and possibly depression and anxiety. Understanding the physiological and psychological impact of each mission highlights the need for corrective and preventative measures to increase success and safety. The objective of the present study is to understand and evaluate the physiological, psychological and cognitive impacts after deployment missions on Portuguese Air Force personnel. Both ground personnel and air search and rescue mission crews will be evaluated after a period of holidays (baseline). During twelve months, when participants are recruited for missions, assessments will occur at three points: pre-mission, during the mission and post-mission. Twelve months after the first assessment (final), all personnel will be evaluated again. Pre-mission assessments will take place during the week prior to departure for the mission. Baseline, final and pre-mission assessments will include anthropometric measurements, assessment of body composition and water compartments, cardiorespiratory, balance and strength tests, cognitive performance, well-being, sleep quality, food intake, psychological tests, and blood biochemical analyses. During the mission, food intake and sleep quality will be monitored. The post-mission assessment that will be carried out upon arrival will only include water compartment assessment, strength tests, cognitive performance, well-being, psychological tests, and blood biochemical analysis. Statistical analysis will be performed using IBM SPSS Statistics software (version 28.0, NY, IBM). Descriptive analyzes will be carried out to characterize the sample. Normality for each variable of interest will be tested with the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Either the paired t test or the Wilcoxon test will be used to assess the effect of each 15-day mission (pre vs post). ANOVA for repeated measures (2x2) will be used to assess the cumulative effect of the missions (baseline vs final and ground personnel vs air personnel). A statistical significance of α = p\<0.05 will be considered.
Investigators
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •Air Force Military
- •For intervention group
- •Approved for search and rescue missions by the clinical staff
Exclusion Criteria
- Not provided
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Change of heart rate variability
Time Frame: Every 15 days search and rescue mission, up to 1 year
bpm, rr interval
Peak tork of extensors and flexors of the tight
Time Frame: Every 15 days search and rescue mission, up to 1 year
Peak tork
Change of Well-being Index
Time Frame: Every 15 days search and rescue mission, up to 1 year
Numeric scale (0-28). A lower score is associated with a better result
Change in response inhibition (Stroop test)
Time Frame: Every 15 days search and rescue mission, up to 1 year
Number of errors, reaction time (ms)
Change of double task ability
Time Frame: Every 15 days search and rescue mission, up to 1 year
walking and calculating
VO2max
Time Frame: 1 year
Indirect calorimetry (mL/kg/min)
Hematological indicators (hemoglobin)
Time Frame: Every 15 days search and rescue mission, up to 1 year
grams/mL blood
Possible perturbations diagnosis
Time Frame: 1 year
Psychology clinical interview
Changes in response inhibition (go/no go test)
Time Frame: Every 15 days search and rescue mission, up to 1 year
Number of errors, reaction time (ms)
Change of maximal voluntary strength
Time Frame: Every 15 days search and rescue mission, up to 1 year
N
Isometric mid-tight pull
Time Frame: Every 15 days search and rescue mission, up to 1 year
maximal tork
Hematological indicators (hematocrit)
Time Frame: Every 15 days search and rescue mission, up to 1 year
Percentage (volume/volume) of red blood cell in total blood
Change of maximal Hand Grip strength
Time Frame: Every 15 days search and rescue mission, up to 1 year
N
Hematological indicators (cell counts)
Time Frame: Every 15 days search and rescue mission, up to 1 year
Number of red and white cells per mL of total blood
Secondary Outcomes
- Change in body mass BIA(Every 15 days search and rescue mission, up to 1 year)
- Change in total water BIA(Every 15 days search and rescue mission, up to 1 year)
- Change in intracellular water BIA(Every 15 days search and rescue mission, up to 1 year)
- Change in eating pattern (record) calories and macros(Every 15 days search and rescue mission, up to 1 year)
- Change in fat-free mass BIA(Every 15 days search and rescue mission, up to 1 year)
- Change in fat mass BIA(Every 15 days search and rescue mission, up to 1 year)
- Change in extracellular water BIA(Every 15 days search and rescue mission, up to 1 year)
- Change in center of pressure(Every 15 days search and rescue mission, up to 1 year)
- Bone mineral content dxa(1 year)
- Change in sleep pattern, and sleep efficiency and quality of sleep(Every 15 days search and rescue mission, up to 1 year)