This is a health Promotion Project in association with Maritime Health & Safety Center, Esvagt and Royal Arctic Line.
Health promotion is now a core feature of public and political agendas. This is due to increasing health problems associated with obesity, physical inactivity and smoking. Health promotion initiatives are being implemented broadly in Denmark, which has also affected the maritime sector. On the basis of their wish to improve the health and well-being of seamen, the managements of ship-owners Esvagt and Royal Arctic Line started a three year project in 2007 in conjunction with Seahealth Denmark, University of Southern Denmark and the Maritime Health & Safety Center.
The Health Promotion at Sea-Project is being supported by the Danish Maritime Foundation and will be focusing on the best ways to implement and maintain health promotion activities in the maritime sector. It is important to emphasise that participation is voluntary for individuals.
Aim
The overall aim of the project is to improve the health and well-being of seamen. The methods used have been shown to have a proven effect ashore where the process has been ongoing for some while.
The intention is for the project to answer the following questions:
- How much follow-up should be recommended to achieve a change in lifestyle choices?
- What is the significance of the various factors for lifestyle changes (physical conditions aboard, support from workmates and management ashore and at sea, support from families during shore leave, etc.)?
- Could a project focusing on health promotion and workplace well-being have any significance for sick leave and job retention?
Methods
This is a development project using quantitative (questionnaire surveys, health data, etc.) and qualitative (interviews, respondent observation, etc.) methods to assess the effect of a range of health promoting interventions on the lifestyles, physical capacity and workplace well-being of individual participants. We also wish to identify the best way to implement and maintain interventions in the maritime sector. Health profiles are made for each of the participants at the start and conclusion of the project.
The interventions being offered to employees include: guidance on physical exercise, courses for stewards/cooks focusing on knowledge of healthy eating and on food preparation and mediating this, quit smoking courses and personal sessions on workplace well-being.
Status and provisional results
More than 50% of the employees of both shipping companies responded to the first round of questionnaire in 2007/2008, and of these, approx 75% agreed to a health profile and about 50% received guidance on physical exercise. At Esvagt, shore-side participants have been included as a separate group.
As part of the project, the courses have been run in 2008 for stewards and catering officers and those involved in food at sea, with further course planned for the spring of 2009 since companies have decided to offer these to all stewards/catering officers.
Two Quit Smoking courses have been held but with a low turnout of about 10-20% of the employees who had said they would wish to attend such courses. We are checking out the option of further courses or alternative strategies.
The project concludes with a follow-up questionnaire survey/health profile.
The project is expected to be completed in mid 2010 and the results will then be published.