open access
Might telesonography be a new useful diagnostic tool aboard merchant ships? A pilot study
open access
Abstract
Methods: To test our thesis we included lectures and hands on scanning practice to the current maritime medicine curriculum at the Faculty of Maritime Studies at the University of Rijeka. Following the didactic and practical training all participating students examined several patients, some with pathology some without. Images obtained by students were then submitted for interpretation to a qualified physician (specialist of general surgery trained in UTS) who was unaware of the patient's pathology.
Results: In total, 37 students performed 37 examinations and made 45 ultrasound images, on 3 patients. In this paper, results on this pilot study are presented.
Conclusion: It is possible to teach ship officers to produce diagnostically usable ultrasound pictures aboard ships at sea. But before reaching final conclusion about applicability of telesonography on board merchant ships, further studies are necessary, that would include studies of economic feasibility, and on validity of introducing such a diagnostic tool to the maritime medical practice.
Abstract
Methods: To test our thesis we included lectures and hands on scanning practice to the current maritime medicine curriculum at the Faculty of Maritime Studies at the University of Rijeka. Following the didactic and practical training all participating students examined several patients, some with pathology some without. Images obtained by students were then submitted for interpretation to a qualified physician (specialist of general surgery trained in UTS) who was unaware of the patient's pathology.
Results: In total, 37 students performed 37 examinations and made 45 ultrasound images, on 3 patients. In this paper, results on this pilot study are presented.
Conclusion: It is possible to teach ship officers to produce diagnostically usable ultrasound pictures aboard ships at sea. But before reaching final conclusion about applicability of telesonography on board merchant ships, further studies are necessary, that would include studies of economic feasibility, and on validity of introducing such a diagnostic tool to the maritime medical practice.
Keywords
Ultrasound; maritime medicine; telemedicine
About this articleTitle
Might telesonography be a new useful diagnostic tool aboard merchant ships? A pilot study
Journal
Issue
Pages
198-207
Published online
2010-03-26
Page views
645
Article views/downloads
1264
Bibliographic record
IMH 2006;57(1-4):198-207.
Keywords
Ultrasound
maritime medicine
telemedicine
Authors
Nebojsa Nikolic
Vladimir Mozetic
Bob Modrcin
Slaven Jaksic
