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Port Workers’ Use of Medical Services in a Maritime Container Terminal in Costa Rica

Author

Listed:
  • Alejandro Martínez

    (Department of Maritime Health, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Sabana Sur, San José CP 10109, Costa Rica)

  • Olaf C. Jensen

    (Centre for Maritime Health and Society, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Degnevej 14, 6705 Esbjerg, Denmark)

Abstract

Supervised by three or four medical doctors and one nurse in rotating shifts, the medical clinic in Costa Rica’s Moín Container Terminal is open 24/7 for visits from port workers. In our study, we aimed to identify the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of a consecutive series of patients who attended the medical clinic for outpatient services during an 8-month period. Our descriptive study involved collecting patient records from the medical clinic during the first 8 months of 2021 (i.e., 1 January–31 August 2021), during which 3050 visits from 1301 port workers were registered. Terminal tractor drivers, crane operators, and stevedores were the most frequent job categories among the patients. Doping (i.e., ICD-10 Z03.6) was observed in 64% of the visits. The top ICD-10 codes among all other patients not observed to have engaged in doping (n = 469) were diseases of the musculoskeletal system (7.2%) and abnormal clinical and laboratory symptoms (6.2%). Problems with the musculoskeletal system were primarily back pain (36.0%), muscle contracture (30.1%), and secondary headache (25.2%). Two-thirds of the visits were due to screening for alcohol and drugs or doping; however, inconsistency in the coding system complicates the analysis of data, and a dropdown menu in the registration is therefore needed to prevent errors. Relative risk calculations are impossible due to a lack of data about the at-risk population but should be pursued under different circumstances in future studies. In the support chain of goods, the medical clinic in the port plays a key role in saving time in shipping, which means that the injured or sick employees in most cases can continue working. For the shipping industry, quick un- and offloading is very important to stay competitive in the market for transport.

Suggested Citation

  • Alejandro Martínez & Olaf C. Jensen, 2023. "Port Workers’ Use of Medical Services in a Maritime Container Terminal in Costa Rica," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-9, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:2:p:1124-:d:1029046
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Marta Regina Cezar-Vaz & Clarice Alves Bonow & Daiani Modernel Xavier & Joana Cezar Vaz & Letícia Silveira Cardoso & Marlise Capa Verde Almeida de Mello & Valdecir Zavarese da Costa & Cynthia Fontella, 2018. "Prevalence of Low Back Pain and Dorsalgia and Associated Factors among Casual Dockworkers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-14, October.
    2. Marta Regina Cezar-Vaz & Clarice Alves Bonow & Mara Regina Santos da Silva & Francisca Lucélia Ribeiro de Farias & Marlise Capa Verde de Almeida, 2016. "The Use of Illegal Drugs and Infectious Contagious Diseases: Knowledge and Intervention among Dockworkers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, January.
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