The Electronic Health Interview Questionnaire for Eating Habits on Board and Case Assessment

Abstract

The present study developed the health monitoring system including an electric interview for seafarers boarding on a coastal vessel with mobile phone communication. Nineteen male seafarers were monitored health-related information for about three months. They measured blood pressure, body weight and step counts per a day and inputted their life histories to a personal computer (PC) on board once a day. These data were recorded by the PC on board and when the ship was within cellphone coverage area, the PC uploaded the data to the server on land. Compare to the lifestyle on the land which was examined previously with self-administered questionnaires, overeating was controlled, however, skipping a meal and snacking was not changed on board. Drinking and smoking habits were not changed between on board and land. Among twelve obese seafarers, eleven seafarers were drinkers and five drinkers had habits of overeating, skipping a meal, and snacking in addition. The health interview questionnaire of seafarers on board with mobile phone communication was successful. Also, the lifestyle habits obtained by the interview were indicated to be useful for the health assessment and the guidance of individual seafarers.