User:Dane (usurped)/The descriptive line

3. The prognostic line

Prognosis is used here as a concept for the future development of health, including the expected effect of the medical treatment and health prevention interventions. The clinical trial is a specific type of epidemiological intervention study (see Chaper 8 in Basic epidemiology).

The Cochrane Library e.g. contains a large number of quality-assessed reviews related to the prognostic line, reviews and critical appraisal of studies of the prognosis for medical treatments and health prevention activities. The reviews from the Cochrane Library and other similar sources which cover the prognosis, treatment and prevention activities of the general diseases are useful for seafarers with some limitations.

Types of treatment, that are shown to be effective on-shore cannot directly be transferred to the sea due to the specific working and living conditions in the maritime area. Compliance with the treatment, lack of regular monitoring etc. can imply that the seafarers are not allowed to go to sea. There is a lack of evidence showing, how the chronic types of diseases can be well treated at sea. There are a few intervention studies in the maritime area.

The word “doctor” means to teach and the seafarers doctor’s role in the clinical practice could be extended to be a teacher also. Results of the epidemiological studies and other types of studies (antropological, psycho-social etc.) can be used to dress the doctors, the teachers of the seafarers, well.

Would it be a good step forward for the occupational health promotion, if the seafarers doctors at the health examinations use more time to listen to the seafarers description of her/his exposures and living conditions and also use time to give advice concering health and safety?