Investigating the Relationship between Medical Students' Life Expectancy and Participation in Voluntary Activities in Southern Cities of Iran

Over the years, the Military University of Medical Sciences has organized jihadi camps as part of students' educational programs, utilizing their capabilities to serve disadvantaged sections of society. Hence, this study aims to assess the impact of participation in jihadi camps as a valuable and effective voluntary movement on the life expectancy of students across various medical sciences departments at the Military University of Medical Sciences.

This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2022 at the Military University of Medical Sciences. The study population comprised students of the Military University of Medical Sciences. Non-cooperation with the research team was the withdrawal criterion, and 200 students completed questionnaires through online electronic systems like Press Line and in paper form by personally approaching students in university settings such as classrooms, morning report sessions, and other educational gatherings. Additionally, research was carried out in the student dormitories of Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences using stratified sampling methods to gather information.

Two hundred individuals participated in this study, with 81.0% being men and 19.0% women. Among them, 123 individuals (61.5%) fell into the 20-25 age group. 97% of participants were medical students, with 137 (68.5%) pursuing professional doctoral studies and 57 (28.5%) specializing. Of the participants, 86 (43%) had not engaged in jihadi camps at all, while 114 (57%) had participated at least once. The life expectancy questionnaire score was 165.62±11.46 for non-participants in jihadi camps and 174.96±18.51 for those who engaged three times (P=0.001). A significant relationship was found between education level and jihadi camp participation (P<0.001). The average life expectancy questionnaire score was 171.07±15.25 for professional doctoral students and 163.75±7.88 for those specializing (P=0.004). Married individuals scored an average of 165.58±9.04, while unmarried individuals scored 171.40±15.81 (P=0.004).

The findings indicate that medical students voluntarily participating in jihadi camps exhibited higher life expectancies. This study underscores the importance of further investigating the link between voluntary activities and physical and mental health outcomes.