Abstract

GOMEZ MUNIZ, Fernando; ANGULO GALAN, Carmen; NAVARRO COMET, Santiago  and  VEGA GUERRA, Purificación. Medical assistance via telemedicine on ships at sea. Salud(i)ciencia [online]. 2017, vol.22, n.5, pp.418-422. ISSN 1667-8682.

Abstract Introduction: Statistical study about the health care provided to seafarers on board their ships by the Spanish Radio Medical Center of the Marine Social Institute (Ministry of Employment and Social Security). Material and results: In 2015, 1658 calls were received requesting medical assistance and 1014 patients were attended (average: 1.64 calls / case). The use of satellite communication was the most common means of communication used (92.2%). The mean age of the patients was 44.51 (standard deviation = 9.892). The average age of Spanish and European Union crew members is higher than those of other origin (p < 0.01). Trawlers account for the 76.4% of the calls asking for medical assistance, merchant ships the 13.2%, travelling ships 1%, yachts 0.5% and others 8.8%. No significant differences were found between the pathology seen and the type of vessel (p> 0.1). 25% of medical consultations were due to trauma conditions and 75% to other diseases. In trauma patients, the affected body regions were: the upper limbs (40.2%), the head (10.8%), the lower limbs (16.7%) and the trunk (12.7%). Isolated eye traumas represented the 11.2% of cases. 81.6% of all the cases were treated on board until port destination. In the 18.4% of the cases, rescue was required (3.2% per helicopter). In the trauma cases, only 61.26% were able to remain on board. Rescue was more frequent in the event of trauma (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Assistances due to diseases are more frequent than those due to trauma. Most patients could be assisted on board. It was observed that seafarer population is becoming older.

Keywords : naval medicine; occupational accident; ships; teleconsultation; telemedicine.

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