International Maritime Health最新文献

{"title":"Assessment of oral hygiene status, caries experience, and prevalence of dental erosion among swimmers in Goa: A cross-sectional study.","authors":"Shubhra S Phal Dessai, Atrey J Pai Khot, Vrushila G Naik, Vaishank V Kavlekar, Sumaya B Hangal, Utkarsh U Natekar, Amita Kenkre Kamat, Vinayak Kamath B, Fhelen Debbie da Costa","doi":"10.5603/imh.106102","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5603/imh.106102","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Swimming is one of the healthiest forms of exercise. However, long duration of exposure to chlorinated water may lead to various oral health problems. Therefore, the aim of this study is to assess oral hygiene status and prevalence of dental erosion among professional and trainee swimmers in Goa.</p><p><strong>Material and methods: </strong>This descriptive, cross-sectional study consisting of swimmers from the state of Goa was conducted from May to June 2024. The participants were selected by simple random sampling method from a swimming pool under each zone to obtain the required sample size of 255. The clinical examination of all the subjects was carried out to record the Oral Hygiene Index Simplified (OHI-S), Tooth Wear index, and the Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth (DMFT) index. A self-designed questionnaire consisting of 16 closed-ended questions was administered, which was validated using face validity and content validity ratio (0.78). The data were analyzed at a statistical significance value p ≤ 0.05.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The mean DMFT score of trainee swimmers was 2.41 ± 2.62, and for professional swimmers it was 4.69 ± 4.06. The mean OHI-S score was 1.46 ± 0.85 among trainee swimmers and 1.90 ± 0.68 among professional swimmers. The prevalence of dental erosion was found to be 66% among professional swimmers and 18% among trainee swimmers (p = 0.015).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The study demonstrated high caries prevalence and poor oral hygiene among swimmers due to their distinctive sport activity. The notable prevalence of dental erosion among professional swimmers as compared to the trainee swimmers was most likely due to their prolonged exposure to chlorinated water and lack of oral hygiene practices.</p>","PeriodicalId":45964,"journal":{"name":"International Maritime Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148708027","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Supporting essential workers at sea during the COVID-19 pandemic - barriers to accessing mental health support among seafarers in Canada.","authors":"Hugo Andres Rojas Aldieri, Cory Ochs, James Valcour, Jennifer M Shea, Shree Mulay, Desai Shan","doi":"10.5603/imh.104797","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5603/imh.104797","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated mental health challenges among seafarers around the globe, who faced increased isolation, extended contracts, and limitations in accessing essential landbased services. Although some mental health support have been provided to seafarers internationally, concerns remain regarding its accessibility, quality, and relevance.</p><p><strong>Material and methods: </strong>The study explored the mental health support use, unmet needs, and barriers to accessing healthcare through a cross-sectional online survey among seafarers who had worked in or transited through Canadian waters during the COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>While the study targeted seafarers of all nationalities, the final sample was predominantly composed of Canadian residents. In the 12 months before the survey, 64.0% of respondents accessed some mental health support, with 29.4% accessing counselling or therapy or help for personal problems and 12.4% using medication. Ships and ports emerged as critical points of care. Unmet needs remained among 18.0% of those accessing support, particularly in counselling for personal issues. Among those who did not access support, 22.6% reported unmet needs. Prominent barriers that prevented seafarers from accessing help, even when they thought they might need it, included self-management preference, uncertainty about where to seek help, difficulty leaving the vessel, and limited internet access. Experiences of harassment, fears of employer retaliation, and perceived risk of medical certification denial further deterred help-seeking intentions.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings and recent Canadian advancements in policy and service delivery underscore the need for improved connectivity, anti-harassment measures, periodic training, and accessible care models to ensure timely and stigma-free mental health support for seafarers. Furthermore, lessons learned from the COVID-19 context highlight the importance of pandemic preparedness, emphasizing flexible service delivery models and strengthened cooperation among maritime stakeholders.</p>","PeriodicalId":45964,"journal":{"name":"International Maritime Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148708060","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Burnout of the seafarers - a systematic review of burnout in the maritime sector.","authors":"Francesco Buscema, Clarissa Cricenti, Lara Bertola, Lara Colombo","doi":"10.5603/imh.106866","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5603/imh.106866","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Seafaring is a strenuous profession, involving prolonged periods of isolation and a high workload in an unpredictable workplace. These factors contribute to increasing development of burnout in seafarers, a significant problem in this group, with moderate to severe emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and reduced personal performance. Despite the impact on mental health, burnout has not yet been systematically investigated. The aim of this systematic review is to examine, analyze, and evaluate the quality of the literature on burnout in the maritime industry. We searched various databases for articles until May 2023 and screened 1058 titles; 12 articles were included in the review. Peer-reviewed English articles dealing with seafarers and the assessment of burnout were included in the review. The results showed that job demands, lack of support, and unfavorable working conditions increase the risk of burnout in sea-farers. Burnout has a negative impact on psychological and physical well-being, job satisfaction, and work engagement, while psychological capital has a positive impact on burnout. Burnout plays a mediating role between work-family conflict (WFC) and job satisfaction, and between psychological capital and both psy-chological wellbeing and safety behavior. These findings emphasize the importance of addressing burnout to promote the well-being and work performance of seafarers.</p>","PeriodicalId":45964,"journal":{"name":"International Maritime Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148674427","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Post-dive decompression bubbles in scuba divers: A scoping review.","authors":"Bethany Jones, Kagan J Ducker, Luke Haseler, Peter Buzzacott","doi":"10.5603/imh.106248","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5603/imh.106248","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Scuba diving can cause venous gas emboli (VGE) formation upon ascent, due to inert gas accumulation in tissues. This scoping review examines the breadth of research on decompression bubbles in humans following hyperbaric exposures. The study aimed to address three research questions: 1) What decompres-sion exposures have been used to record bubble data in scuba divers? 2) How are post-decompression VGE assessed and graded? 3) What factors influence post-decompression bubble formation in scuba divers, and what is their impact? We identified 172 papers, involving 6271 divers, examined for VGE using 2D echocardiography and Doppler methods following recreational, technical, saturation, and occupational decompression exposures, with or without altitude exposure during or after diving. Publication characteristics, VGE methodologies, and decompression exposures are discussed, while bubble outcomes were broadly classified into three groups: physiological consequences of bubbles, risk factors of bubble formation, and preventative strategies for reducing bubble formation. This review presents the scope of research focused on decompression bubbles in humans and highlights the heterogeneity in study designs, decompression exposures, ultrasound methodologies, bubble quantification, and overall findings. Future research should focus on developing a comparative scale for decompression exposures, standardized ultrasound methods, increased research on female divers, and investigating the interaction of individual factors with dive profiles to enhance individualized approaches to mitigating decompression bubble risks.</p>","PeriodicalId":45964,"journal":{"name":"International Maritime Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148670896","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Influence of nutritional and behavioral risk factors on blood pressure profiles of the selected marine fishers.","authors":"Adithiyalakshmi Srinivasanarayanan, Sridevi Sivakami Palanivelu","doi":"10.5603/imh.105010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5603/imh.105010","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The marine fisheries sector plays a vital role in providing food, nutrition, employment, and income in India. However, it also exposes fishers to harsh environmental conditions, increasing their risk of non-communicable diseases.</p><p><strong>Material and methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study involved 550 marine fishers from Ramanathapuram District, Tamil Nadu, India to identify the influence of selected nutritional and behavioral risk factors on blood pressure profiles.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Findings revealed that hypertension was more prevalent in older fishers, especially 46 to 55 years of age. Significant association and weak positive correlation were found between hypertension and nutritional risk factors such as body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), with higher BMI (24.74 ± 5.85) and waist circumference (86.64 ± 8.01 cm) found in selected marine fishers with high blood pressure profile. Behavioral factors, including smoking and alcohol consumption, were associated with pre-hypertension and hypertension at the 10% significance level. The regression analysis showed that risk factors such as BMI (B value = 0.474, 0.438), WHtR (B value = 68.414, 45.496), habit of skipping meals (B value = 7.142, 3.759), type of cooking oil used (B value = 1.610, 1.626), habit of consuming street foods (B value = 5.611, 1.348), had significant positive association with both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>There is an urgent need for tailored and targeted health interventions to modify these risk factors which could potentially reduce high blood pressure profiles and improve overall health outcomes among marine fishers.</p>","PeriodicalId":45964,"journal":{"name":"International Maritime Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148670888","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing crew's preferences regarding technical solutions for screening and early detection of communicable diseases on board cruise ships.","authors":"Christina Golna, Ioannis-Anestis Markakis, Chara Tzavara, Pavlos Golnas, Kyriakos Souliotis","doi":"10.5603/imh.107827","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5603/imh.107827","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The willingness of cruise ship crew to comply with technological solutions to screen for and detect communicable diseases on board is a critical driver of the implementation of such solutions.</p><p><strong>Material and methods: </strong>We surveyed crew readiness to accept state-of-the-art solutions for screening and early detection of communicable diseases on cruise ships. Self-reported sociodemographic characteristics, levels of technology use, and acceptance of proposed solutions were anonymously recorded in paper format. Multiple logistic regression analyses probed into the association of respondent characteristics with willingness to accept proposed solutions.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 280 crew members on two successive cruises on board the ship Celestyal Olympia participated in the survey. The vast majority of crew (97.8%, n = 274) agreed with at least one solution. Crew members noted an almost universal acceptance for coating cabins or public spaces surfaces with antibacterial materials (95.4%) and air purifiers in the cabin and/or the air conditioning system (94.6%), and very high acceptance levels for screens with real-time guidance and cameras detecting passengers with fever (91.8% and 90.7%, respectively). Age, gender, educational level, and previous working experience in a cruise ship were significantly correlated with the crew members' willingness to adopt proposed solutions.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Crew on board cruise ships may exhibit very high acceptance levels of technological solutions that aid in the early detection of communicable diseases, as part of standard health and safety at work regulations. It is imperative to ensure that crew also develops a deep understanding of the value of such technologies, to universally embed them in their daily practice and successfully drive passenger adherence.</p>","PeriodicalId":45964,"journal":{"name":"International Maritime Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148670872","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"It's a small world - work environment factors enabling bullying and harassment on ships in the Danish merchant fleet.","authors":"Sisse Malene Frydendal Grøn, Elin Kragesand, Lisa Loloma Froholdt, Maj Britt Nielsen, Subash Thapa, Andrew Fenn, Jesper Bo Nielsen","doi":"10.5603/imh.103116","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5603/imh.103116","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The aim of this study was to investigate enabling factors of bullying and harassment in the work environment on board ships.</p><p><strong>Material and methods: </strong>This qualitative study was based on semi-structured interviews with seafarers and industry experts. The study also used free-text responses to open-ended questions from a large population-based cross-sectional survey on the prevalence of bullying and harassment on ships in the Danish merchant fleet. The data were imported into NVivo and analyzed thematically.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Four themes emerged as enabling factors specific to the work environment on a ship. The first theme, Isolation, covers how the crew - as a group - is physically isolated from the world outside the vessel, but also how new crew members can face challenges when trying to become established within the groups on board. The second theme, Hierarchy, encompasses how challenging the existing rank-based hierarchy is not tolerated and how the hierarchy itself is often maintained through bullying and harassment. The third theme, Crewing, includes how diversity related to, for example, culture, language, gender, or age/experience may create another form of hierarchy, with the same negative consequences as the hierarchy based on formal rank. The fourth theme, Leadership, covers how leadership can enable both good and unacceptable work environment related to bullying and harassment.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Bullying and harassment pose serious challenges to the work environment on ships. Four themes were identified as enabling factors of bullying and harassment. Some are inherent conditions, whereas others may be improved through continued awareness and focused educational initiatives.</p>","PeriodicalId":45964,"journal":{"name":"International Maritime Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148670885","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss in maritime workers: A systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Maria Eduarda Oliveira Onuki, Giulia Carvalho Lopes Mangas, Livia Nunes Albertini, Beatriz do Prado Aguiar, Giovana Rossi, Eliane Marcílio Santos, Ana Luiza Cabrera Martimbianco","doi":"10.5603/imh.107163","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5603/imh.107163","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Occupational noise is a major global health risk and is responsible for 16% of disabling hearing loss in adults. In the maritime sector, workers are frequently exposed to hazardous noise levels despite the implementation of preventive measures, resulting in auditory and broader health effects. This systematic review aimed to clarify the prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and other hearing disorders among maritime workers.</p><p><strong>Material and methods: </strong>A systematic search of MEDLINE, CINAHL, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, LILACS, and Web of Science databases was conducted up to February 28, 2024, without language or publication status restrictions. We included observational studies reporting the prevalence of NIHL or related auditory conditions in maritime workers. Methodological quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist. Meta-analyses were performed where appropriate, and the certainty of evidence was rated using the GRADE approach.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Twelve studies comprising 285,818 maritime workers were included. The overall methodological quality was moderate; one-third of the studies were rated as high quality, and most met at least five JBI criteria. Based on very low-certainty evidence, the pooled prevalence of NIHL was estimated at 30% [95% confidence interval (CI): 19-42%], with substantial heterogeneity (I2 = 87%). Advancing age, longer occupational exposure, and specific job functions, particularly those performed in engine rooms and on petroleum vessels, were consistently identified as key risks for NIHL. Tinnitus was also commonly reported, affecting more than half of exposed individuals in some studies.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Based on very low-certainty evidence, the prevalence of occupational noise-induced hearing disorders among maritime workers is estimated at 30%. Key risk factors include age, duration of service, and specific roles, such as engine room personnel and oil vessel workers. The findings underscore the urgent need for preventive measures, including the use of hearing protection, stricter legislation, and proper training.</p>","PeriodicalId":45964,"journal":{"name":"International Maritime Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148664582","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Musculoskeletal disorders and associated factors among fishermen in Vietnam - a cross-sectional study.","authors":"Nam Nguyen Bao, Tam Nguyen Van, Ha Nguyen Thi Hai, Chi Tran Thi Quynh, Son Nguyen Truong","doi":"10.5603/imh.105891","DOIUrl":"10.5603/imh.105891","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Fishing is a physically demanding occupation that exposes workers to harsh environmentalconditions, awkward working postures and vibrations. These factors contribute to the development of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). This study aimed to determine the prevalence of MSDs as well as their associated factors among fishermen.</p><p><strong>Material and methods: </strong>This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 576 male fishermen aged 20 to 58 years. Data were collected through clinical examinations and face-to-face interviews using the standardized Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The 7-day prevalence of MSDs among fishermen was 85.2%. The most affected anatomical sites were the lower back (79.5%), wrists/hands (71.0%), and shoulders (56.6%). Associated factors identified included age 40 and above, work experience of 10 years or more, being overweight/obese, alcohol abuse, and engine crew or fisherman vs. fishing boat captain.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Musculoskeletal disorders are a highly prevalent occupational health issue among fishermen. Preventive measures should focus on improving working conditions, promoting health education, conducting regular screenings, and strengthening occupational health services to reduce the risks and impacts of MSDs in this workforce.</p>","PeriodicalId":45964,"journal":{"name":"International Maritime Health","volume":"77 1","pages":"31-38"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147582719","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Physiological and behavioral responses to extreme cold-water diving and thermal stress: recommendations for the polar diver.","authors":"Christopher R Kovacs","doi":"10.5603/imh.101868","DOIUrl":"10.5603/imh.101868","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>As access and exploration of polar regions has expanded in the past two decades due to greater interest and technology, more recreational scuba divers are exploring these more remote cold-water locations. Polar, or extreme cold-water, diving is a more physically demanding form of scuba diving, and divers need to better understand the effect of near-freezing water temperatures on human physiology. Changes in both physiological and behavioral functions may occur quickly in these types of environments and present the scuba diver with a potentially more challenging and dangerous environment. Divers with significant experience in more temperate warm-water locations may overestimate their ability to manage extremely cold water and underestimate the effect of near-freezing water temperatures on their body and diving capacity. More scuba training organizations need to better educate and prepare divers for this type of diving and should consider adding more environmentally specific information in their educational programming. With a better understanding of how the body responds to cold-water diving and the methods utilized to manage thermal changes and stress in extreme conditions, dive safety and performance will be improved, and the increased risks associated with diving in extreme environmental conditions may be managed more effectively with the purpose of increasing diver safety.</p>","PeriodicalId":45964,"journal":{"name":"International Maritime Health","volume":" ","pages":"175-185"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148670866","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}