Injuries in Military Training
Purpose of the project: From an existing data set you will select 1
dichotomous injury outcome and up to 12 risk factor variables. Using your
selected outcome and risk factors, you will perform the analysis, and then
write-up a Methods and Results section of a scientific manuscript.
A successful completed project will include:
A ONE sentence statement of the purpose of your study.
A concise Methods section of how you met your stated purpose.
A concise Results section on your findings. Included in this
section will be 4 tables:
1. Descriptive frequencies of all variables
2. Univariate associations of all variables with your outcome.
3. A general logistic regression model.
4. A final logistic regression model.
The total word count for the entire project (excluding tables) will be
no more 1200 words. Sections 2 and 3 should be written as if they are
part of a final manuscript being submitted to a journal. 1200 words is
not very much, and the toughest part of these sections will be to stay
within the word count limit.
Background: U.S. Marine Corps recruit training was a 12 week training
program required for all personnel enlisting in the Marine Corps. The
Recruit Training Regiment (RTR), in San Diego, CA, takes men who are
arriving directly from their homes, and produces Marines at the end of
training. Recruit training is a very physically arduous training
program with the goal of producing the most physically fit Marine
possible at the end of 12 weeks. During training, a proportion of
recruits suffer a musculoskeletal injury and seek medical attention.
As part of an effort to develop a fitness curriculum which produces the
greatest fitness improvement while keeping injuries to a minimum, a
study was performed to identify risk factors of injury during training.
A literature search was performed to identify established and potential
risk factors for injury during an arduous physical fitness program.
From this search, a list of risk factors was developed for
investigation. Upon arrival at RTR, a 5% random sample of these
apparently injury-free incoming recruits were asked to volunteer, and
those providing consent were assessed for these risk factors using a
questionnaire. 94% of the sample agreed to participate. The
enrollment process continued for 6 months. After filling out the
questionnaire, recruits were observed over their 12 weeks of training.
Throughout the observation period, any injury reported to the medical
clinic by an enrolled recruit was recorded
The questionnaire used tocollect risk factordata is provided.
There are a number of outcomes for you to choose from. They
are labeled:
STRFX – Stress Fracture
Anklefoot – Ankle or foot injury
Knee – knee injury
Overuse – injury in any location from overuse
Acute – injury in any location from an accident
ITBS – ilio-tibial band tendonitis
Injured – any injury for any reason
HPT – injury to hip, pelvis, or thigh
Pick ONE outcome of interest from above and select your
exposure of interest and up to 11 covariates from the
questionnaire
