Seasickness among Icelandic seamen.

Area of Science:

• Maritime Health
• Occupational Health
• Seafarer Well-being

Background:

• The unique maritime working environment presents constant stimuli like vessel motion, noise, and vibration.
• The Icelandic fishing industry is vital, yet the health effects of seasickness-related symptoms on seamen remain under-researched.
• Understanding these impacts is crucial for seafarer health and safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and impact of seasickness, seasickness symptoms, and mal de débarquement on seafarer health.
• To explore how the maritime working environment influences these seasickness-related health factors.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 262 seamen was conducted.
• Data was collected via questionnaires, with most participants attending a compulsory maritime safety course.
• Chi-square tests were employed to analyze differences between variables.

Main Results:

• A high prevalence of seasickness (87.8%) and mal de débarquement (85.8%) was observed among participants.
• Common co-occurring conditions included tension headache (38.1%) and tinnitus (37.9%).
• A significant portion (30.6%) had prior hospital admissions for land-based accidents or mishaps.

Conclusions:

• Seasickness, its symptoms, and mal de débarquement are common health issues for Icelandic seamen.
• Demanding working conditions at sea appear to negatively affect seafarer health, both during voyages and after returning ashore.
• Further research is essential to fully understand and mitigate these occupational health risks.