An empirical study on medical selection of flying cadets with flat foot between PLAAF and USAF

LI Xiaojie; ZOU Zhikang; DU Junjie; ZHU Keshun; YUAN Chaofan; XIA Qing; JI Baomin; MA Zhongli

Abstract：Objective To find the difference in the standards of flat foot between PLA Air Force flying cadets recruiting medical standard directory and US Air Force Medical Standard Directory in order to facilitate the reform of PLA Air Force flying cadets recruiting medical standard directory. Methods The reject rate and comprehensive assessment qualifiedrate of flat foot in flying cadet recruiting final selective physical examinations from 2012 to 2015 were researched. Standards of flat foot in PLA Air Force flying cadets recruiting medical standard directory and that in US Air Force Medical Standard Directory were compared and subjected to an empirical study. Results During flying cadet recruiting final selective physical examinations from 2012 to 2015, 52 candidates were rejected because of flat foot, accounting for 26.40% of the candidates rejected because of orthopeadic diseases. 87 candidates with flat foot were approved by comprehensive assessment, accounting for 37.18% of the candidates with orthopeadics diseases approved by comprehensive assessment. The differences in the standards of flat foot between PLA Air Force flying cadets recruiting medical standard directory and US Air Force Medical Standard Directory mainly lie in the fact that functions of the foot were emphasized in US Air Force Medical Standard Directory but were not mentioned in PLA guidelines. Based on US air force medical standard directory, 43 were qualified and 9 were disqualified among the candidates rejected because of flat foot. Among the candidates with flat foot approved by comprehensive assessment, 79 were qualified and 8 were disqualified. Conclusion In flying cadet recruiting final selective physical examinations, the number of candidates rejected because of flat foot is huge. The comprehensive assessment for flat foot in PLA has proved to be as effective as the US medical standards.