INVESTIGATION OF MAL DE DEBARQUEMENT SYNDROME IN SHIP CREW AND TRAIN MACHINISTS
1Mehmet Ali Aydınlar Üniversitesi, Sağlık Hizmetleri Meslek Yüksekokulu, Odyometri, İstanbul, Türkiye2Acıbadem Altunizade Hastanesi, Odyoloji Departmanı, İstanbul, Türkiye
3İstanbul Aydın Üniversitesi, Lisansüstü Eğitim Enstitüsü, Odyoloji, İstanbul, Türkiye
4İstanbul Aydın Üniversitesi, Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi, Odyoloji Bölümü, İstanbul, Türkiye Objective: Mal de Debarquement Syndrome is a neurological disorder that manifests itself as a constant sensation of motion in the form of swaying, rocking or imbalance affecting the pathways of the vestibular system. In most cases, the symptoms of Mal de Debarquement syndrome are triggered by various forms of passive movement, such as travelling by plane, train or boat.
Introduction: In our study, the "Istanbul Mal de Debarquement Syndrome Symptom Questionnaire", which was developed to assess the sub-factors of "MdDS diagnosis", "dizziness character", "visual motion intolerance", "quality of life", was applied to ship crews and train drivers considered to be at risk. The differences in MdDS symptom severity between these two occupational groups were investigated.
Methods: The study included 150 ship crew members aged 18 years and older (38.44±12.60 years) and 180 train machinists (38.90±11.41 years). The Istanbul Mal de Debarquement Syndrome Symptom Questionnaire (MdDSQ) and a medical history form were administered to the participants online via Google Forms.
Results: In our study, ship crew and train machinists reported a high rate of short-term MdDS after the voyage. This rate was found to be 81% in train machinists and 78% in ship crews. The MdDSQ scores of ship crew and train machinists varied according to the subfactors. According to the results of the age groups of the ship's crew in all sub-factors and the "MdDSSQ total" score, it was determined that there was no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) in all sub-factors of the questionnaire and the "MdDSSQ total" score. It was found that there was a statistically significant difference in the "Diagnostic Criteria" sub-factor (F=2.868; p<0.05) according to the age groups of the machinists, and there was no significant difference in all other sub-factors and the "MdDSSQ Total" score (p>0.05).
Conclusion: In our study, a high rate of short-term MdDS occurred in train machinists and ship crews after the voyage. Although it varies according to the subfactors, higher MdDSSQ scores were obtained in ship crews compared to train machinists. The data obtained will become more meaningful as the number of studies on the subject increases.
Keywords : Mal de Debarquement Syndrome, Ship crew, Train machinists, Passive movement