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[Medical services on an inspection ship in the north Atlantic]
1Inspektionsskibseskadren, Flådestation Frederikshavn.
Insights
Naval crews sought medical advice five times more often than expected, with lower ranks and younger age being key predictors. Dangerous work environments and poor hygiene significantly influenced these consultations.
Area of Science:
- Maritime Medicine
- Occupational Health
Context:
- Danish Naval Inspection Ships operating in the North Atlantic.
- Medical services provided onboard during a three-month period.
Purpose:
- To illustrate onboard medical services.
- To identify factors predicting seeking medical advice among naval personnel.
Summary:
- 305 medical consultations were recorded for 72 crew members, five times the general practice rate.
- Low rank and young age were significant predictors of frequent medical consultations.
- Traumata/injuries, dermatological conditions, and nervous system/sense organ diseases were overrepresented diagnoses.
Impact:
- Identified dangerous working environments and poor hygiene as key factors influencing medical consultations.
- Suggests that mental stress has less significance compared to environmental factors.
- Highlights differences in healthcare-seeking behavior compared to general practice.
Abstract:
The Danish Naval Inspection Ships sail in the North Atlantic waters with a doctor on board. The object of this investigation was to illustrate the medical services on board and to elucidate the significance of various factors to predict seeking medical advice. During a period of three months, all of the medical services and certain basic factors were registered. The crew was interviewed about consumption of alcohol and tobacco, previous life at sea and family background. A total of 305 consultations were used by the crew of 72 men. This figure is five times the anticipated figure in general practice. Low rank and low age were predictors for frequent medical consultations. The diagnosis groups of traumata/injuries, dermatological conditions and disease in the nervous system or organs of sense were relatively overrepresented. A series of factors may possibly have influenced the pattern of seeking medical help so that this differs from general practice. It is concluded that the dangerous working environment and poor possibilities for good hygiene are important factors whereas the mental stress is of lesser significance.