open access
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
open access
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
2126
Article views/downloads
1248
DOI
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
References (16)- Main LC, Wolkow A, Chambers TP. Quantifying the Physiological Stress Response to Simulated Maritime Pilotage Tasks: The Influence of Task Complexity and Pilot Experience. J Occup Environ Med. 2017; 59(11): 1078–1083.
- Zevallos J, Hulshof CT, Mutsaerts T, et al. Outcomes of seafarer work fitness qualifications in the Netherlands. Occup Med (Lond). 2014; 64(4): 267–270.
- Oldenburg M, Jensen HJ, Latza U, et al. Seafaring stressors aboard merchant and passenger ships. Int J Public Health. 2009; 54(2): 96–105.
- Oldenburg M, Hogan B, Jensen HJ. Systematic review of maritime field studies about stress and strain in seafaring. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2013; 86(1): 1–15.
- Oldenburg M, Baur X, Schlaich C, et al. Seafaring stressors aboard merchant and passenger ships. Int J Public Health. 2009; 54(2): 96–105.
- Härmä M, Partinen M, Repo R, et al. Effects of 6/6 and 4/8 watch systems on sleepiness among bridge officers. Chronobiol Int. 2008; 25(2): 413–423.
- Ferguson SA, Lamond N, Kandelaars K, et al. The impact of short, irregular sleep opportunities at sea on the alertness of marine pilots working extended hours. Chronobiol Int. 2008; 25(2): 399–411.
- Eriksen CA, Gillberg M, Vestergren P. Sleepiness and sleep in a simulated "six hours on/six hours off" sea watch system. Chronobiol Int. 2006; 23(6): 1193–1202.
- Gander P, van den Berg M, Signal L. Sleep and sleepiness of fishermen on rotating schedules. Chronobiol Int. 2008; 25(2): 389–398.
- Pitta F, Troosters T, Probst VS, et al. Quantifying physical activity in daily life with questionnaires and motion sensors in COPD. Eur Respir J. 2006; 27(5): 1040–1055.
- King GA, Torres N, Potter C, et al. Comparison of activity monitors to estimate energy cost of treadmill exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2004; 36(7): 1244–1251.
- Manfredini F, Borleri D, Mosconi G. [Measurement of energy expenditure in a group of construction workers during work]. G Ital Med Lav Ergon. 2007; 29(3 Suppl): 722–725.
- Sharkey PF, Danoff JR, Klein GR, et al. Surgeon energy expenditure during total joint arthroplasty. J Arthroplasty. 2007; 22(2): 210–212.
- Radespiel-Tröger M, Rauh R, Mahlke C, et al. Agreement of two different methods for measurement of heart rate variability. Clin Auton Res. 2003; 13(2): 99–102.
- Löllgen D, Jung K, Mück-Weymann M. Herzratenvariabilität (HRV) im Sport? Methodische Überlegungen zur vergleichenden Messung mittels Polar S 810 und Standardmethoden der Medizin. In: Hottenrott K, editor. Herzfrequenzvariabilität im Fitness- und Gesundheitssport Schriften der Deutschen Vereinigung für Sportwissenschaft. Hamburg Czwalina Verlag. ; 2003: 121–135.
- Gamelin FX, Berthoin S, Bosquet L. Validity of the polar S810 heart rate monitor to measure R-R intervals at rest. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2006; 38(5): 887–893.
