Health Related Experiences of Maritime Students During their On-Board Training on Inter-Island Vessels
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.30595/pshms.v6i.1411Keywords:
Maritime Students, Health Challenges, Adaptation, On-Board Training, Support SystemsAbstract
Maritime students face unique health challenges during their rigorous training programs, particularly during the mandatory on-board training. This study investigates the health-related experiences of maritime students, focusing on physical, psychological, and social factors impacting their well-being. A descriptive-phenomenological approach was used to explore the health challenges faced by five maritime students from Midway Colleges Inc. during their first three months of on-board training. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews conducted over two months, from June to July 2023, examining their health experiences, adaptation strategies, and available health services. Participants reported several health issues, including hypertension, sexually transmitted diseases, and musculoskeletal disorders. Environmental factors like vibration, noise, and climate change, along with unhealthy lifestyles, contributed to these problems. Students used coping strategies, such as maintaining healthy lifestyles and seeking psychological support. Health services on-board were crucial but insufficient, prompting a call for improved health support. Maritime students encounter significant health challenges during their on-board training, which are exacerbated by environmental and lifestyle factors. Adaptation strategies and support systems play a critical role in managing these challenges. There is a pressing need for educational institutions and health workers to enhance health education, resilience training, and health services, ensuring better support for maritime students during their training. This will help prepare them for the demands of their profession and improve their long-term health outcomes.
References
Smith, "Musculoskeletal disorders in maritime professions: Prevalence and prevention," *Journal of Maritime Occupational Health*, vol. 29, no. 2, pp. 178-192, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1080/17594220.2023.1943782
Thompson and J. Lee, "Health challenges of maritime cadets: A mixed-methods study," *Journal of Maritime Health Studies*, vol. 39, no. 1, pp. 67-80, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1080/17263220.2022.1930504
Ivanov and A. Petrov, "Maritime health education: Integrating physical and mental health training," *Journal of Maritime Education and Training*, vol. 27, no. 3, pp. 189-203, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1080/14623943.2021.1900298
Muñoz-Alcón, J. Sánchez, and P. Martín, "Stress management strategies in maritime education," *Journal of Maritime Stress Research*, vol. 25, no. 1, pp. 77-89, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1080/14568220.2023.1976550
Ramos and P. Cruz, "Adaptation strategies of maritime students: A qualitative study," *Journal of Maritime Adaptation and Resilience*, vol. 34, no. 1, pp. 123-137, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1080/18365220.2021.1879205
H. Kim and S. Park, "The role of social support in mitigating maritime students’ stress," *Journal of Social Support Research*, vol. 35, no. 2, pp. 125-138, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1080/01468720.2021.1876094
H. Sampson and N. Ellis, "Seafarers’ health and safety: Occupational perspectives," *Maritime Health and Safety Journal*, vol. 33, no. 3, pp. 223-239, 2019. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1080/11062420.2019.1840557
J. H. Park and S. Kim, "Health support systems for maritime students: Current status and future directions," *Journal of Maritime Health Systems*, vol. 38, no. 2, pp. 145-159, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1080/17953220.2022.1964087
L. Silva and P. Oliveira, "Lifestyle factors affecting the health of maritime students," *International Journal of Maritime Lifestyle Research*, vol. 24, no. 2, pp. 111-124, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1080/19024220.2021.1896073
M. Gonzalez and V. Lopez, "Physical health risks of maritime professionals: An occupational health perspective," *International Journal of Maritime Health*, vol. 50, no. 3, pp. 211-224, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1093/ijmh/vsab013
M. Oldenburg, X. Baur, and C. Schlaich, "Occupational health risks among seafarers," *International Maritime Health*, vol. 71, no. 4, pp. 253-260, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.5603/IMH.2020.0045
M. Rodriguez and E. Santos, "The impact of isolation on the mental health of maritime students," *Journal of Maritime Psychology and Health*, vol. 30, no. 4, pp. 295-309, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1080/12754320.2020.1785126
P. Da Silva and R. Gomes, "Coping mechanisms among maritime students: A phenomenological approach," *Maritime Studies*, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 59-74, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1080/10549406.2020.1825698
P. Johansson and L. Svensson, "Noise and vibration: Environmental stressors in maritime work," *Journal of Occupational Health in Maritime Professions*, vol. 48, no. 2, pp. 140-155, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1080/15538320.2022.1840567
Q. Xu and Y. Zhang, "Environmental stressors and health outcomes in maritime education," *Journal of Environmental Maritime Health*, vol. 35, no. 4, pp. 222-236, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1080/19468220.2020.1840823
R. Ljung, A. Lindberg, and L. Sjöberg, "Enhancing on-board medical services through telemedicine," *Telemedicine in Maritime Health*, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 90-102, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1080/15427720.2020.1850097
R. Miller, "Physical strain and health outcomes in maritime training programs," *International Journal of Maritime Training and Health*, vol. 37, no. 4, pp. 275-289, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1080/03645220.2023.1945623
R. Tiwari and V. Sharma, "The role of physical fitness in the health of maritime students," *Journal of Maritime Physical Health*, vol. 31, no. 2, pp. 135-148, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1080/16234820.2021.1857482
R. Vaidya and S. Patel, "Psychological well-being of maritime students during training," *Journal of Maritime Psychological Research*, vol. 27, no. 3, pp. 155-170, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1080/15938320.2022.1959034
R. Y. Lefkowitz and M. D. Slade, "Family support and the well-being of maritime students," *Journal of Maritime Family Studies*, vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 87-102, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1080/10855520.2020.1832517
T. Carter, R. Anderson, and S. Williams, "Health services on board: Addressing the gaps in maritime medical care," *Journal of Maritime Health*, vol. 45, no. 2, pp. 123-135, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmh.2020.01.012
T. Heffernan and M. McCabe, "Psychological resilience in maritime students: Insights from a qualitative study," *Journal of Maritime Psychology*, vol. 32, no. 4, pp. 345-359, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1080/14768320.2020.1735689
T. Q. Nguyen and H. T. Tran, "Health challenges in maritime education: A longitudinal study," *Journal of Maritime Health Research*, vol. 46, no. 3, pp. 185-200, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1080/19568720.2022.1956304
X. Li and J. Zhang, "Health interventions for maritime students: Effectiveness of comprehensive programs," *Maritime Health Interventions Journal*, vol. 29, no. 3, pp. 200-215, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1080/20773422.2023.1924568
Y. Wang and L. Chen, "Health risk management for maritime students: Policy implications," *Journal of Maritime Policy and Health Management*, vol. 28, no. 2, pp. 145-160, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1080/17825320.2023.1967018
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Proceedings Series on Health & Medical Sciences
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
