Trends in self-reported health and health behaviours from the first 20 years of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Recruit Health Questionnaire (2003-2023)

Introduction: The Recruit Health Questionnaire (RHQ) is a research and surveillance tool designed to assess a range of health determinants and provide comprehensive baseline health information on Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) recruits. To commemorate its twentieth anniversary, this manuscript highlights key trends from the first two decades of data collection. Methods: The RHQ is administered on an ongoing, voluntary basis to Regular Forces CAF recruits in their first weeks of basic military training. A total of 60,792 recruits completed the RHQ between 2003 and 2023. The RHQ participants primarily consisted of non-commissioned member (NCM) candidates (78.1%), men (84.6%), and individuals under 25 years of age (61.4%). Select variables related to health behaviours, physical health, and mental health were included to align with interests of internal stakeholders. Results: The findings revealed a mix of positive and negative trends across recruit cohorts, with both linear and non-linear patterns observed. For example, both men and women reported overall reductions in cigarette smoking across recruit cohorts, although non-linear increases were observed in select cohorts. By contrast, eating habits consistently worsened across recruit cohorts for each gender. In the overall sample, the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms also worsened across cohorts. Discussion: The RHQ is a valuable tool for monitoring the health of CAF recruits and informing programming during basic training. This data source will remain essential as the CAF continues to evolve and expand.