Telemedicine applied to offshore medical emergencies: impacts on a Brazilian oil industry

Abstract

Abstract Background The study aims to analyse the impact of the use of advanced telemedicine resources in the management of medical emergencies on offshore oil platforms of a major Brazilian operator during the period 2018–2019. Methods 38 maritime platforms were analysed, totalling a sample of 5992 workers. Exploratory data analysis, adherence test to normal distribution (Ryan-Joiner normality test) and linear correlation test (Spearman’s rho) were used to characterize the data. 5 groups were defined, 1 offshore platform with advanced telemedicine resources (reference group) and 4 platforms without this support. Each group had data on the monthly amount of disembarkation due to health reasons, in 2018 and 2019, through common flights (1087 and 1207) and aeromedical evacuations (68 and 126), respectively. Finally, hypothesis testing was carried out for two independent samples, to compare the average landings of the reference group with the other groups. Results The reference group presented average landings for common flights lower than those of the other groups in 2018. In 2019, presented average landings for common flights lower than those of three groups and statistically equal to that of a group. In 2018 and 2019, the reference group presented statistically equal averages (P-value > α = 0.05) of landings due to aeromedical evacuations. Conclusions Despite the possibility of other contributing factors, such as health management of each group and operation time of the platforms, this study allows us to conclude that, in 2018 and 2019, the group of maritime platforms with advanced telemedicine resources obtained, in general, lower average landings due to health reasons.