COMPREHENSIVE REHABILITATION OF MILITARY PERSONNEL: CLINICAL-PSYCHOLOGICAL INJURIES AND THE NURSING COMPONENT OF CARE

Abstract

Introduction. The full-scale war in Ukraine has led to an increase in the number of military personnel with multiple injuries and mental disorders, requiring comprehensive rehabilitation that integrates medical, physical, psychological, and social interventions. Nurses play a crucial role by ensuring continuity of care, monitoring medical prescriptions, and providing psycho-emotional support. According to the Law of Ukraine “On Rehabilitation in Healthcare” and international practices, nursing is a key element of the multidisciplinary team. Aim. To study the prevalence of clinical-psychological injuries among military personnel and to assess the contribution of nursing care to the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs. Materials and Methods. The study materials included medical records of military personnel who underwent treatment and rehabilitation at the Rehabilitation Center of the Kremenchuk Intensive Care Hospital in 2023–2024. Additionally, a survey of all patients and focus group interviews with 45 nurses involved in care and rehabilitation were conducted. Methods: bibliosemantic; medical-statistical (with calculation of percentages and mean error using the formula m = √[p(100−p)/n]); medico-sociological (survey and interviews); system analysis and logical generalization. Results. The most frequent injuries were: mental disorders (92,0±2,1%), joint fractures (86,0±2,7%), vascular damage (84,0±2,8%), open traumatic brain injury (78,0±3,2%). The survey revealed a high level of satisfaction: medical effectiveness coefficient (Km) = 0,91, social effectiveness coefficient (Ks) = 0,88, and integrated effectiveness coefficient (Ki) = 0,80. Positive feedback related to the quality of rehabilitation services (88,0±2,5%), friendly attitude of staff (85,0±2,5%), and high professionalism of nurses (82,0±3,0%). At the same time, 77,0±3,3% of respondents emphasized the need for psychotherapeutic skills. Focus group interviews with nurses revealed psychological tension (71,0±3,5%), the need for stress resilience and empathy development (68,0±3,6%), and communication difficulties (62,0±3,8%), highlighting the necessity of training in stress management and team interaction. Conclusions. Common consequences of combat include mental disorders and polytrauma, which require multidisciplinary rehabilitation. The high effectiveness (Ki = 0,80) confirms the importance of programs where nurses play a leading role. Their involvement in care, psycho- emotional support, and recovery measures is decisive, while the development of empathy and rehabilitation competencies should be prioritized in continuous professional development.