International Maritime Health最新文献

Background: Impressive advances in artificial intelligence have given travellers a new source of health information. AI-powered tools, such as ChatGPT, allow users to obtain health information in a fast and accessible way. The aim of this study was to assess the readability of ChatGPT responses to questions about health risks when travelling.

Material and methods: Ten Questions about the health risks when travelling in the "Questions and Answers" section of the World Health Organisation's website have been asked 10 times to ChatGPT. A total of 100 answers was obtained and analyzed for readability.

Results: The mean ± SD of Flesch Reading Ease was 35.82 ± 6.46, Flesch-Kincaid grade level was 13.25 ± 1.45, Simple Measure of Gobbledygook was 12.34 ± 1.29, Gunning Fog Index was 13.77 ± 1.34, Coleman-Liau Index was 14.52 ± 1.09, Automated Readability Index was 14.93 ± 1.81.

Conclusions: The readability of the answers produced by ChatGPT was 'difficult' and a college level education is required to understand the text. Lack of understanding of information can reduce the likelihood of travellers making good health decisions. To improve the understandability of ChatGPT responses, it may be useful to generate responses at a significantly lower reading level.

Schistosomiasis is an uncommon disease in European countries, such as Poland. However, the rare occurrence of this disease in the modern era, which is characterized by increased opportunities for migration, may start to pose a risk over time due to the diagnosis of this condition in patients who have imported it from its endemic areas. We report the case of a 9-year-old boy of Cameroonian origin who recently resided in Poland and who presented with recurrent hematuria, abdominal pain, and eosinophilia. Persistent symptoms and comprehensive diagnostics revealed Schistosoma haematobium infection, confirmed by the detection of eggs in urine sediment. In addition, imaging tests revealed renal asymmetry, calcium lesions in one of the ureters, and spinal lesions that are not characteristic of the Schistosoma infection. The patient was treated with two courses of praziquantel, resulting in clinical improvement and absence of S. haematobium eggs in the follow-up urine test.

Background: In recent years, there has been a growing trend of world travel among Poles. Nurses can play a significant role in educating patients about, among other things, the principles of prevention related to travel medicine. The aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge, self-assessment of the level of competence and attitudes toward potential travel medicine training among Polish nurses.

Material and methods: A cross-sectional survey was implemented using a proprietary questionnaire, that, in addition to questions on nurses' knowledge of travel medicine, included questions on attitudes toward potential postgraduate training in this field. The survey was conducted among nurses from hospitals, primary care clinics and specialty clinics.

Results: One hundred thirty-seven nurses participated in the survey. Respondents with a specialty or those who had completed various types of specialty courses or training had significantly higher levels of knowledge in travel medicine than other respondents. Age (H = 3.51; p = 0.476), length of service (H = 9.291; p = 0.054), educational level (H = 1.479; p = 0.477) and place of employment (H = 2.315; p = 0.678) did not differentiate respondents' travel medicine knowledge. An inadequate level of nurses' knowledge of immunizations for pregnant women planning to travel abroad and the rules of the European Health Insurance Card was observed. The majority of respondents believe that they do not have adequate training to provide care to travel patients.

Conclusions: Given the dynamic pace of tourism development and the increased travel opportunities for Poles, postgraduate training for the nursing profession in travel medicine to increase knowledge and competence in the principles of safe travel should be available. This could translate into increased opportunities to effectively educate patients and provide professional care for them.

Malaria infections are increasingly resisting drug therapy, indicating the need to address and provide more affordable alternative raw materials for medicines to overcome parasite resistance. In this context, seaweeds are one of the potential maritime resources that can be explored. Therefore, this study aimed to gain an overview of the Gracilaria sp. ethanol extract and its constituents in suppressing Plasmodium parasites in vitro. Seaweed was dried, powdered, and underwent ethanol extraction, then screening for compound content was achieved with a phytochemical method, infrared spectroscopy, and gas chromatography. The ethanol extract of Gracilaria sp. was tested for toxicity in inhibiting the growth of parasites that cause malaria, particularly Plasmodium falciparum strain D37. The results showed that saponins, tannins, flavonoids, and alkaloids were found in the seaweed ethanol extract used. Alkaloids, flavonoids, and derivative chemicals inhibited Plasmodium parasite growth with an IC50 of 43.38 μg/mL.

Background: Our group has published two 5-year studies on the repatriation rates of Filipino seafarers from 2010 to 2014 and 2015 to 2019. The Maritime Labor Convention (MLC) 2006, which promotes seafarers' rights, was ratified in the Philippines in 2012. The current study investigates whether any change occurred since then.

Materials and methods: We analyzed the total repatriation rates and medical causes of repatriation throughout the 10-year period. We performed a t-test to compare the repatriation rates in both 5-year periods, and χ-square tests for the medical causes.

Results: The repatriation rate decreased from 2015 to 2019 with a t-test score of 0.0453 (P < 0.05). Musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal diseases, as well as injuries/traumas were the most frequent causes of repatriation. There was a significant increase in the number of musculoskeletal and psychiatric/ /psychological causes for repatriation, and a decrease in injuries/traumas.

Conclusions: A historical review of the 10-year period across the two studies revealed that these changes coincided with implementation of MLC 2006 in August 2013. This was designed as the seafarers' Magna Carta, promoting and establishing various provisions to improve global seafarers' welfare including areas such as minimum age, seafarers' employment agreements, hours of work or rest, payment of wages, onboard medical care, accommodation, food and catering standards, health and safety protection, and accident prevention. Our study shows changes in repatriations that indicate an improvement in trauma rates, and while no method can definitively show statistical correlation or cause and effect, we can safely conclude that there is a positive correlation between the implementation of the 2006 MLC and the repatriation rates of Filipino seafarers.

Background: Professional diving is an activity that is carried out more and more frequently, due to the great professional opportunities it offers. It is a job with high responsibility and a lot of risk, involving low temperatures, adverse weather conditions, and high pressures, which requires the diver to be in optimal conditions. The general objective of this research work is to analyze disabling diseases and disabilities in professional divers in the Region of Murcia.

Material and methods: A descriptive and cross-sectional observational study, type of case series, has been carried out to analyze the causes and factors of the disabilities that occurred in 169 professional divers in the region of Murcia (Spain) from 2014 to 2020.

Results: The accumulated incidence of disability in seven years, with 39 cases, is 230.7 subjects per 1,000 divers, much higher than that of the rest of the maritime workers, which turns out to be 130.1/1000 in the same period of time. The average age is 33.7 ± 7.2 years, and the professional experience is 9.6 ± 6.1 years. Occupational diseases and work accidents were responsible for 15 (38.55%) cases. Otorhinolaryngologic (33.3%), musculoskeletal (25.6%), and psychiatric (10.2%) pathologies are the three most common causes.

Conclusions: Perfect physical condition, health and, especially, age in professional diving are a limitation, the latter being a risk indicator, so it is essential that the professional is in optimal physical condition and is aware of the limitations to carry out said professional activity, due to the great adversity it entails in being able to carry out it throughout one's entire active working life.

Background: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are a common and severe disease with vascular and/or neurological complications, affecting the patient's health and quality of life. Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) is a non-drug treatment method that has anti-inflammatory effects, reduces edema, increases neovascularization, increases the synthesis of collagen fibers, and accelerates the wound healing process. This study aims to evaluate the results of treating patients with diabetic foot ulcers with HBO.

Material and methods: A randomized controlled study was conducted. A total of 94 patients was diagnosed with diabetic foot ulcers, and treated at the Institute of Maritime Medicine from January 2021 to December 2023. Study subjects were divided into 2 groups: the study group included 43 patients treated with HBO combined with intravenous antibiotics, wound care, and control of underlying disease; the reference group included 51 patients who were not treated with HBO, but were treated with intravenous antibiotics, wound care, and control of underlying disease.

Results: The infection status and level of granulation tissue growth of the study group were better than the reference group (p < 0.001); the depth and diameter of the ulcer in the study group decreased compared to the reference group (p < 0.05). Treatment time and amputation rate in the study group were reduced in comparison with the reference group: 10.1 ± 4.6 days, 15.1 ± 7.8 days and 4.6%, 11.7%.

Conclusions: Hyperbaric oxygens a good method for treating diabetic foot ulcers, helps with anti-inflammation, stimulates the growth of granulation tissue, quickly heals ulcers, reduces treatment time, and reduces amputation rates.

Early detection and accurate diagnosis are crucial for effective management and prevention of complications associated with atrial fibrillation (AF). The advent of wearable technology has revolutionized the way we detect and monitor cardiac conditions. This case report describes a patient who requested medical assistance from the Centro Internazionale Radio Medico (CIRM), the Italian Telemedical Maritime Assistance Service (TMAS) center and was diagnosed with AF while on board a merchant ship using a smartwatch Electrocardiogram (ECG).