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Maritime field studies: methods for exploring seafarers’ physical activity
Affiliations- Institute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine Hamburg (ZfaM), University Medical Centre Hamburg-eppendorf (UKe), Germany
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Abstract
In order to determine the health status of seafarers, questionnaires are frequently applied or medical/ /psychological examinations conducted ashore, for example, in the form of medical fitness examinations or simulator training. In such a survey design, the occupational influences and the individual reaction cannot be ascertained. However, these aspects are especially important in the maritime context as employees on board are often exposed to the typical shipping-related stressors in the workplace for many months, both during working hours and during leisure time. In particular, it is assumed that working on board requires a high level of physical effort. Therefore, an exploration of occupational stress and strain, particularly the assessment of the seafarers’ physical activity, should preferably be carried out in a comprehensive and realistic way in a maritime field study, i.e. an on-the-job survey directly on board.
Abstract
In order to determine the health status of seafarers, questionnaires are frequently applied or medical/ /psychological examinations conducted ashore, for example, in the form of medical fitness examinations or simulator training. In such a survey design, the occupational influences and the individual reaction cannot be ascertained. However, these aspects are especially important in the maritime context as employees on board are often exposed to the typical shipping-related stressors in the workplace for many months, both during working hours and during leisure time. In particular, it is assumed that working on board requires a high level of physical effort. Therefore, an exploration of occupational stress and strain, particularly the assessment of the seafarers’ physical activity, should preferably be carried out in a comprehensive and realistic way in a maritime field study, i.e. an on-the-job survey directly on board.
Keywords
activity on board; daily report; energy expenditure; heart rate; voyage episodes
About this articleTitle
Maritime field studies: methods for exploring seafarers’ physical activity
Journal
Issue
Article type
Case report
Pages
95-99
Published online
2019-06-25
Page views
1862
Article views/downloads
1054
DOI
10.5603/IMH.2019.0015
Pubmed
Bibliographic record
IMH 2019;70(2):95-99.
Keywords
activity on board
daily report
energy expenditure
heart rate
voyage episodes
Authors
Marcus Oldenburg
Hans-Joachim Jensen
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