Turkish recreational divers: a comparative study of their demographics, diving habits, health and attitudes towards safety.

INTRODUCTION: In Turkey, scuba diving has become more popular and accessible in the past decade and there has been a commensurate rise in the number of certified divers. This new generation of recreational divers has not been described in detail previously. The aim of this study was to profile this group, while investigating any gender differences and making comparisons with the global diving community. METHODS: Turkish dive club members and diving forum/blog readers were invited to complete an online questionnaire investigating their demography, medical issues and diving history and habits. RESULTS: The questionnaire was completed by 303 female and 363 male divers. Significant differences were found between the sexes in terms of demographics, diving experience and attitudes toward safety. Previous or ongoing medical conditions were reported by 100 female divers and 141 males. Only 29% of females and 22% of males had been examined by a physician trained to conduct assessments of fitness to dive. Female divers did not report problems while diving during menstruation or while taking oral contraceptives. There was no significant difference in the occurrence of decompression sickness (DCS) and DCS-like symptoms between the sexes. CONCLUSION: This is the largest study to date conducted on recreational divers in Turkey and so carries some value. It profiles their physical and behavioral attributes as well as differences in diving practices between the sexes in Turkey. Our findings should have implications for medical screening and dive training standards.

Proposing short-term observation units for the management of decompression illness.

Decompression illness (DCI) is a potentially life-threatening disease, often requiring hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO2) for symptom resolution. Once treated, current guidelines recommend an observation period of at least six hours for patients with neurological symptoms in case of relapse. Surveys have shown a symptom relapse rate as high as 38.5%, with half of those occurring in the first twenty-four hours. We propose that a short-term observation unit (OU) would be an ideal setting for these patients to be monitored. To evaluate this, we did a retrospective study of patients presenting with DCI at a major hyperbaric facility. One hundred and two consecutive patients were evaluated with DCI diagnosis and receiving HBO2. Forty-two (41.2%) patients had neurological sequelae; ten required more than one treatment for refractory symptoms or relapse. Thirty-eight of the forty-two patients received up to three treatments, which can be done within the time requirements of short-term observation. We conclude that OUs would provide a safe and efficient disposition for patients after receiving HBO2.