Maritime Health Onboard - Treatment Pathways IMHF Expert Panel Consensus Statement

Area of Science:

• Maritime Health
• Emergency Medicine
• Occupational Safety

Background:

• Seafaring medical emergencies pose significant risks to seafarer well-being and career longevity.
• Current onboard medical management practices require standardization for non-medical personnel.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish foundational principles for managing onboard medical conditions by non-medical professionals.
• To guide the development of standardized medical treatment pathways for maritime settings.

Main Methods:

• A workshop involving nine expert participants.
• Evaluation of existing treatment pathways from "The Ship Captain's Medical Guide" (23rd Edition).
• Utilized Delphi study survey and a modified RAND-UCLA Appropriateness Method (RAM) for consensus building.

Main Results:

• A consensus was reached on general principles for developing future medical treatment pathways.
• Identified the need for refining existing pathways and creating new digital treatment protocols.
• Established a framework for consistent medical emergency management at sea.

Conclusions:

• Standardized principles are crucial for effective onboard medical care by non-medical personnel.
• Digital formats offer potential for enhancing the accessibility and usability of treatment pathways.
• This initiative supports improved seafarer safety and health in maritime environments.