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[Evaluation of self-medication by scuba divers]
Thibaut Fraisse1, Balmes Nicolas, Benoît de Wazières
1Service de Médecine Interne Gériatrique, CHU Caremeau, Nimes, France.
Therapie
|November 5, 2005
Summary
Many French scuba divers use medication, with over 60% taking drugs occasionally. Some misuse medications like aspirin and steroids for performance, unaware of the risks involved in scuba diving.
Area of Science:
- Diving Medicine
- Pharmacology
- Sports Science
Context:
- Scuba diving is a popular recreational activity with inherent physiological risks.
- Medication use among divers is not well-documented.
- Understanding drug use patterns is crucial for diver safety.
Purpose:
- To investigate the prevalence and patterns of drug use in French scuba divers.
- To identify commonly used medications and reasons for their use.
- To assess divers' awareness of the risks associated with self-medication during diving.
Summary:
- A survey of 106 French scuba divers revealed that 15% use long-term medication, while 60.33% use medication occasionally.
- Commonly used occasional drugs include analgesics (43.5%), corticosteroids (14.5%), and antiemetics.
- Misuse of aspirin and steroids for performance enhancement was observed, with risk levels varying by diving activity.
Impact:
- Divers frequently acknowledge the influence of drug use on performance (72.6%) but underestimate self-medication risks (59.4%).
- Findings highlight potential safety concerns related to medication misuse in the diving community.
- This study underscores the need for targeted education on safe medication practices for scuba divers.