Denise F Blake1, Clinton R Gibbs2, Katherine H Commons3, Lawrence H Brown4. 1. School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, IMB 23, Emergency Department 100 Angus Smith Drive, The Townsville Hospital, Douglas, Queensland, Australia, 4814, Phone: +61-(0)7-4433-1111, E-mail: denise.blake@health.qld.gov.au. 2. Emergency Department, The Townsville Hospital, Townsville, School of Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia. 3. Emergency Department, The Townsville Hospital, Townsville, Queensland, Australia. 4. Mount Isa Centre for Rural and Remote Health, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Molecular Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: In Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) Open Water Diver certification courses that cater to tourists, instruction is often condensed and potentially delivered in a language that is not the candidate's native language. OBJECTIVE: To assess the incidence of middle ear barotrauma (MEBt) in open-water diver candidates during a condensed four-day certification course, and to determine if language of instruction affects the incidence of MEBt in these divers. METHOD: The ears of participating diving candidates were assessed prior to commencing any in-water compression. Tympanic membranes (TM) were assessed and graded for MEBt after the confined and open-water training sessions. Tympanometry was performed if the candidate had no movement of their TM during Valsalva. Photographs were taken with a digital otoscope. RESULTS: Sixty-seven candidates participated in the study. Forty-eight had MEBt at some time during their course. MEBt was not associated with instruction in non-native language (adjusted odds ratio = 0.82; 95% confidence intervals 0.21-3.91). There was also no significant association between the severity of MEBt and language of instruction. CONCLUSION: Open-water diver candidates have a high incidence of MEBt. Education in non-native language does not affect the overall incidence of MEBt.
INTRODUCTION: In Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) Open Water Diver certification courses that cater to tourists, instruction is often condensed and potentially delivered in a language that is not the candidate's native language. OBJECTIVE: To assess the incidence of middle ear barotrauma (MEBt) in open-water diver candidates during a condensed four-day certification course, and to determine if language of instruction affects the incidence of MEBt in these divers. METHOD: The ears of participating diving candidates were assessed prior to commencing any in-water compression. Tympanic membranes (TM) were assessed and graded for MEBt after the confined and open-water training sessions. Tympanometry was performed if the candidate had no movement of their TM during Valsalva. Photographs were taken with a digital otoscope. RESULTS: Sixty-seven candidates participated in the study. Forty-eight had MEBt at some time during their course. MEBt was not associated with instruction in non-native language (adjusted odds ratio = 0.82; 95% confidence intervals 0.21-3.91). There was also no significant association between the severity of MEBt and language of instruction. CONCLUSION: Open-water diver candidates have a high incidence of MEBt. Education in non-native language does not affect the overall incidence of MEBt.
Authors: Oskari H Lindfors; Anne K Räisänen-Sokolowski; Jari Suvilehto; Saku T Sinkkonen Journal: Diving Hyperb Med Date: 2021-03-31 Impact factor: 0.887