SEAFARERS HOSPITAL SOCIETY & YALE UNIVERSITY
SEAFARER HEALTH: RESEARCH TO DATE AND CURRENT PRACTICES
Introduction: Society, Lloyd’s Register Foundation,
who comes to a meeting is free to
in place by the shipping industry
and Yale University are reported.
use information from the discussion,
There has been relatively limited
regarding seafarer health and
The relevant literature for this review
but is not allowed to reveal who
Ultimately, the results of the literature
literature on the health of maritime
safety,
was sourced using PubMed and
made any particular comment. It is
search and the round table meetings
Background:
workers as compared to other occupations. Published studies regarding the health and wellbeing of seafarers have been increasing in recent years. Google Scholar returns
• Aim 1. To ascertain practices put
for use in the qualitative analysis.
Google Scholar databases. The
designed to increase openness of
were analyzed with a mixed methods
these practices across the industry,
search criteria used the keywords
discussion). Each of the two round
approach (A mixed methods research
and
“seafarer”, “maritime”, “wellness”,
tables followed the same structure,
involves combining qualitative and
“mental health”, “physical health”,
namely, a directed approach utilizing
quantitative approaches within
“health”, “interventions”, “wellbeing”,
open ended questions, to delve into
a study. In all cases, it expands
and “well-being”. Additionally, a time
what was deemed possible and
research in a way that any single
• Aim 2. To determine the coverage of
• Aim 3. To assess the perceived effectiveness of these practices.
393 results when search terms of “seafarer”, “maritime”, “health”, and
During the conduct of the study, it
frame covering the last fifteen years
worth doing in terms of addressing
approach cannot. As a result, the
“wellness” are utilized. Of note, 323
became clear that the published
(2006 – 2021, inclusive) was specified.
the long-term risk factors affecting
research is more comprehensive)
(82%) of these articles were published
stressors affecting the wellbeing of
All relevant papers were available
seafarers’ psychological wellbeing.
so that a fuller picture could be
in the last ten years. A clearer
seafarers should also be ascertained
without need to contact the authors.
Risk factors were grouped into four
developed regarding the health
understanding of the stressors
as these are the upstream, and
Only primary peer-reviewed articles
umbrella topics:
and wellbeing of seafarers , the
affecting seafarers’ wellbeing, the
possibly modifiable, causes of ill
that were published in English were
recommended approaches for
health among seafarers.
improving the wellbeing of these workers, and the degree to which
Methods, Data, and Analysis:
these recommendations have
incorporation of recommendations
included. The search resulted in
1. Interpersonal factors,
from the academic community,
3,706 papers for which abstracts
2. Training,
the results of those interventions
were used to determine relevancy.
3. Living conditions, and
on the health and wellbeing of
This led to 127 articles being utilized
4. Work demands.
seafarers, as well as the barriers encountered implementing these
been put into practice, the barriers
In this document, the Yale University
for this study. Each of these articles
encountered and the resultant effect
reports conclusions of this Seafarer
were read to determine the stressors,
After a brief introduction, the
upon seafarer wellbeing would be of
health research project incorporating
wellbeing issues, recommendations,
members of each round table
great benefit to the industry.
a review of the published literature
practices either studied or put into
were placed into one of two
This report will describe the noted
on seafarer health and wellbeing,
practice, results of these practices
breakout rooms. Members of the
stressors for the health and wellbeing
including recommendations to
with regard to seafarer wellbeing,
first breakout room discussed
of seafarers. It will then note the
Society contracted with Yale
improve health and wellbeing
and the barriers to implementation
the first two categories of risk
current wellbeing issues among
University to determine the practices
among this population, practices
of recommendations.
factors: interpersonal factors and
that population. Next, the published
In May 2021, the Seafarers Hospital
recommendations.
that have been put into place within
implemented by the industry, as
training. Members of the second
recommendations to improve
the shipping industry to maintain
well barriers to full implementation.
Two round tables, designed to obtain
breakout room discussed the last
seafarer health and wellbeing. The
seafarer health and to determine
Additionally, the themes identified
viewpoints from the perspective
two categories of risk factors: living
practices incorporated by industry,
their perceived effectiveness. Three
from a series of round table
of shipping companies were held
conditions and work demands.
along with the observed result and
specific aims were defined:
discussions aimed at preventing
virtually, the first on June 29, 2021
Discussions within each breakout
barriers to implementation will then
poor mental health among seafarers
and the second on July 15, 2021. The
room lasted approximately one hour
be discussed. Following that, the
in the long term by identifying
round tables were hosted jointly
after which everyone was rejoined for
results of the qualitative portion of
impactful, implementable action
by Lloyd’s Register Foundation,
a short synapsis of the discussions
the study will be described. Lastly,
with representatives of shipping
Seafarers Hospital Society and Yale
held in each group. The meetings
the overall results based on both the
companies, policy makers, and
University and were conducted
were recorded with the permission of
quantitative and qualitative portions
maritime welfare organizations
under Chatham House rules (Under
the attendees so that a transcription
of the study will be presented.
as well as the Seafarers Hospital
the Chatham House Rule, anyone
of the round tables could be created
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