Epidemiological research in maritime health and safety - why and how ?

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Olaf C Jensen, MD, MPH, Senior researcher at the Centre for Maritime Health and Safety, Institute of Public Health at the Faculty of Health

Sciences, University of Southern Denmark

To learn how the epidemiological research in general constitutes a core element of occupational risk prevention.

To understand the objectives of the 3 main study design types: 1) descriptive studies 2) causal analytical studies and 3) intervention analytical studies.

To understand how the 3 design types correspond to the logical diagnostic procedures in the medical clinic.

To understand how the objectives of the design types correspond to the basic elements of the evidence based medicine logical structure

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Why research?

Because we need scientific knowledge for the risk prevention

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Risk prevention– knowledge needed from research

Example: The Spanish treasure fleets from the 1700ies were large Galleons ships.The problem was that many seafarers died of scurvy or other diseases.

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The first maritime medical experimental study

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Problem: 1700 - sailors were dying from scurvy, Treatments had been tried but none wereeffectiveThe medical experiment : Lind compared six different treatments Result: Citrus fruit was much better than the other

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Different fruits, foods, drinks were given and citrus fruts was helpful

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Fishing fleet – injury risk ?

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HOW is research

done?

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Research types

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”gnosis” for health practice and health research

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Evidence based medicine

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”Quality circle” or general ”problem solving circle”

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Problems with the car – mono-causal!

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Health and safety risk prevention – multiple causes

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Prevention of hypertension

Risk of fatal and non-fatal injuries Risk of occupational diseases Risk of injuries and errors caused by

fatigue, Risk of HIV for seafarers Risk of other infectious diseases Risk of burn-out and stress Risk of non communicable diseases

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Some examples of research needs in seafaring:

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Government Provide laws and funding for health research

Health Faculties University degrees in maritime occupational health

Maritime Universities Implement health risk prevention modules

Students Maritime risk prevention research projects

Maritime Authorities Collaboration + provide data

Seafarers´ organisations Collaboration + provide data + funding

Shipowners organisations Collaborations + provide data + funding

Insurance companies Collaborations+ provide data + funding

Occup. health services Collaboration + data collection

Seafarers´s doctors Collaboration + data collection + own studies

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Contribution to more research from:

Resumé :

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Risk prevention includes Practice

and Research

Thank you for your attention

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