DDRC Research

“Health of Divers” and “How Divers Seek Help and Advice for Signs and Symptoms of DCI” are two research studies currently being conducted by The Diving Diseases Research Centre (DDRC) Plymouth. 

It is several years since the DDRC collected data looking at the general health of divers, and over the years diving has become a “sport for all” and thus open to a greater spectrum of the population. The DDRC would like to have a better understanding of the current state of health in recreational divers, as well as smoking, alcohol, prescription, over the counter, and recreational drug use. The “Health of Divers” study is an anonymous questionnaire which only takes a few minutes to complete and will assist DDRC in its valuable work. A trial of this project took place at the Birmingham Dive Show in October last year and LIDS in March 2008 and the response from divers was enthusiastic; so please take part.  Gaining a better understanding of the state of health in divers generally will enable DDRC to help divers dive more safely.

The second study “How Divers Seek Help and Advice for Signs and Symptoms of DCI” is designed to try and understand what happens when a diver experiences signs and symptoms of DCI.  Why do some divers wait several hours before seeking help, why do some divers fail to seek help at all?  Data from a trial study conducted in 2007 and at LIDS 2008 showed there were several interesting factors that may influence the way in which divers sought help, so DDRC now need to gather more data.  As studies have shown a relationship between the time from symptoms to time of treatment and lasting effects, this study is potentially a valuable contribution to our understanding of the treatment of DCI.

Please download the two separate questionnaires, and post the completed questionnaire/s back to us at DDRC:

For the attention of: Marguerite St Leger Dowse
DDRC
Hyperbaric Medical Centre
Tamar Science Park
Research Way
Plymouth PL6 8BU

Please be assured all the information you give us will remain anonymous.
Thank you so much for your valuable time and your contribution to diving research.

Questions regarding this questionnaire may be directed to the Research Department at DDRC:
Email -  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   or phone DDRC - 01752 209999 

Comments

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Colin Bennett   |2008-05-14 12:11:08 I think you would hit a wider audience if these could be either e mailed or faxed back to you rather than using mail

Alan Knowler  - Mailing   |2008-05-14 13:40:14 I totally agree with the comments by Colin Bennett. I'm sure more people would fill in the form if it could be done & returned on line - it would certainly save having to print it out & using paper!

Michael Brown  - Mr   |2008-05-14 16:14:34 I am a Diabetic diver and try to help in all diving health enquiries but time and paper are valuble.Use on-line question form.

ross anderson  - Snail mail   |2008-05-14 16:21:00 i would like to take part in the surveys in question but like your previous comments i will not if i have to use snail mail.

David Dunn  - Feedback   |2008-05-14 17:45:26 I think the message from everyone is coming back loud and clear - use an electronic means of capturing your data via questionaire - it's not difficult. I'd be more than willing to participate, but do not want to take the time, effort and even the expense of a stamp (!) needlessly regards

Gary Smerdon  - Current questionnaires and 'snail mail'   |2008-05-14 22:17:23 Thanks for the comments which are much valued. These two questionnaires were developed prior to the new DDRC website being developed and it is not advisable to change the method of data collection partway through a study. However, all new questionnaire-based studies will be designed to be completed online. The honest completion of these two questionnaires relies on total anonymity, and this cannot be readily achieved using email and is debatable using faxed responses. We therefore need to insist on snail mail for this current study but hope that most will consider it worthwhile spending a little time completing the surveys. Many thanks to the many divers who have already responded.

Huw Lovell  - Response to questionaire   |2008-05-16 19:36:59 I would like to point out that having to use a postal reply method does not work in many locations. I live and work in Egypt as an instructor, both BSAC and PADI, and there is no way I can assume that any mail I send from here will ever get to it's destination. Please make online responses possible, then you will cetainly get a much larger database.

Martin Cridge  - RE: Response to questionnaire   |2008-05-16 21:22:38 Hello Huw, thanks for your response. As Gary pointed out above, there are a number of reasons why this study cannot be completed online. However, it is planned that in all future studies, you will be able to complete them online.

Erika Berner  - Response to Questionaire   |2008-05-17 09:56:20 I agree with Huw, I live in Saudi Arabia. If I post these questionnaires, they may or may not get there. How about adding an email address and allow responses to be scanned and emailed? You would still have the hard copies in the respondent's handwriting with signature if required. Most people have access to scanners at work or home. If you really want to do a study concerning the "health of divers,

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3.22 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."