Search

This article identifies the nature of functions that social service workers employed by municipal organisations have to perform during a community disaster and subsequent reorganisation at a time of war. The article also explores to what extent the functions of workers change as a result of the transition from a peacetime routine to a war situation. Using focus groups the study assesses the knowledge of social service workers and ordinary citizens who had direct experience of the second Lebanese war in Israel (2006). Eight major functions needed at a time of disaster are distinguished among various employees. The article discusses the significance of these functions, and the need to make changes in the network of functions at a time of disaster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: A period of military conflict is characterized by high level of stress. In this study, we examined the seizure frequency in a civilian population of patients with seizures during a period of military conflict., Methods: This retrospective study investigated seizure frequency in patients with seizures seen at the epilepsy clinic of Barzilai Medical Center during the summer of 2014 when the military operation "Protective Edge" between Israel and Gaza took place. Data collected included age, gender, type of seizures, diagnosis, medications, geographic area of living, medical history, imaging, EEG findings and seizure frequency before, during and after the period of conflict. The study was approved by the local Institutional Review Board., Results: Sixty-three (35 men, 55%) patients were included in the study. No significant change in seizure frequency was seen in most patients Mean frequency of seizures was one/3 months during the military operation, not significantly different from seizure frequency before and after the period of conflict. Demographic data, disease duration, findings on MRI or EEG, drug therapy or distance from the Gaza Strip were not associated with change in seizure frequency. However, an increased seizure frequency during the period of military conflict was found in patients with Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures (PNES) compared with patients with epileptic seizures (p = 0.04, Fisher's exact test)., Conclusion: Our study did not show any significant change in seizure frequency during a period of military conflict in most of patients with epilepsy. However, the frequency of spells increased in patients with PNES during this period., (Copyright © 2018 British Epilepsy Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)