Screening for type 2 diabetes and hypertension in seafarers' medical examinations.

BACKGROUND: The aims of the study are: 1) to replace the urine glucose test for diabetes with more than 50% false negatives, with an accurate screening for type 2 diabetes and hypertension in the mandatory biannual fit-for-duty medical examinations of seafarers; 2) to produce data driven "Green Ship" health pro-motion in the ships. A new health promotion and disease prevention public health intervention programme integrated in the fit-for-duty medical examinations for seafarers is being developed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The lack of an accurate diagnosis of type 2 diabetes is replaced by accurate HbA1c and/or fasting glucose tests and the test for hypertension in various disease stages is based on the International Associations' Guidelines. A "Green Ship" health promotion programme is proposed for all on board, not only for diseased crew members. RESULTS: A protocol for an accurate biannual screening for diabetes and hypertension is presented. Educational programmes for medical doctors and seafarers on the management of hypertension and diabetes on board will be developed. Presuming that all crew members are potentially on their way to be pre-diseased or are diseased, the "Green Ship" health promotion programme is implemented for the whole crew. CONCLUSIONS: The International Labour Organization and the National Maritime Authorities are prompted to revise the International and the National Guidelines for Seafarers Medical Examinations, respectively. Con-certed actions are requested to implement public health promotion projects in shipping. Maritime medical doctors are prompted to use health dialogues and to report the clinical data in the Excel file. Sustainability is obtained by complying with the Sustainable Development Goals (3, 4, 8, 10, and 17).

Rethinking the use of urine dipstick for early diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Transport workers, seafarers and fishers have biannual mandatory fit-for duty medical examinations. Urinedipstick is used for early diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Due to low sensitivity with more than 80% false negatives the method should be replaced by highly sensitive blood tests, Hb1Ac or similar for diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes mellitus to pursue the UN Global Sustainable Goals, especially Goal 3: Good health and well-being for all workers and Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.

Early diagnosis of T2DM using high sensitive tests in the mandatory medical examinations for fishers, seafarers and other transport workers.

Transport workers like seafarers, truck-, bus-, train- and taxi drivers and fishers have a known great inequity in health at work including high risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Their routine mandatory medical examinations use urine glucose for diabetes check with more than 50% false negatives, which should be replaced by high sensitive tests for diabetes-2, like A1C, Fasting Glucose (FPG) or Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT).

Global occupational health research methods education.

Occupational and Public Health Research has been developed gradually over the last century, unfortunately not to the same levels in all continental parts of the globe. The aim is to supply an open modular educational program in Occupational- and Public Health research methodology for research of the risk indicators for the prevention of workers' health and safety globally. The modular educational program in research methodology is based on the Humboldtian university model with unity of research and teaching. Research data for the students comes from the research part of the "Maritime Education and Research Network" for all types of industries. The modules constitute the basic education in occupational health science research methodology. The proposal for Master of Science for medical doctor's specialization in occupational medicine with an emphasis on research includes 3 theoretical and a clinical module. The huge difference in research methodology globally indicates inequity in relation to the UN17 goals that need to be taken hand on. Global collaboration in teaching health research methodology is needed to reach the goals of equity in health science education. The aim is to reduce the inequity in global health by strengthening the education in health science research methodology.•Open access educational program for health science research methodology to reach the UN17 goals.•The modules constitute the education in research methodology for Public- and Occupational health.•Global education in health research methodology is needed to eliminate the inequity in global health.