Date of Award

January 2013

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Public Health (MPH)

Department

School of Public Health

First Advisor

Martin D. Slade

Abstract

This retrospective study estimates cumulative incidences of injury and illness in a seafarer cohort using data from one company providing remote medical services and claims auditing for seafarers. There were 3,526 medical events and 16,626 individual medical services in the merchant seafarers covered by these services between 2008 and 2012. The majority of medical events occurred in men, numbering 3,099 (97.5%); median age was 38.9 years (range: 18-80). The total at-risk seafarer population was estimated by utilizing standard crew size for each class of vessel, and this was used to calculate cumulative incidence for injury and illness. The four-year overall cumulative incidence rate (per 100 seafarers) for injuries and illness was equal at 8.5. Cumulative incidence for subcategories of illness was determined. The most significant limitation of this study is that the true at-risk population and demographic distribution of this population are unknown. Important next steps in this research include refining the estimated number of at-risk seafarers, obtaining baseline demographic information for seafarers in this cohort, and understanding other potential risk factors.

Comments

This is an Open Access Thesis.

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