Search

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2008.01.014 Byline: Monique A.M. Berger (a), Arno J. Krul (b), Hein A.M. Daanen (b)(c) Keywords: Dexterity tests; Gloves Abstract: Finger dexterity tests are generally used to assess performance decrease due to gloves, cold and pathology. It is generally assumed that the O'Connor and Purdue Pegboard test yield similar results. In this experiment we compared these two tests for dry conditions without gloves, and for dry and wet conditions with two types of Nytril gloves. In line with previous observations, wearing gloves caused a decrease in performance of about 12% for the O'Connor test and 9% for the Purdue test. Wetting the gloves prior to the test had no effect on the Purdue score. However, wetting the gloves increased the O'Connor performance significantly by 11%. The results show that the O'Connor and Purdue tests do not yield similar results and should be used selectively for specific tasks. Author Affiliation: (a) Human Kinetic Technology, The Hague University, P.O. Box 13336, 2501 EH The Hague, The Netherlands (b) TNO Defence, Safety and Security, Business Unit Human Factors, Soesterberg, The Netherlands (c) Faculty of Human Movement Science, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Article History: Received 10 September 2007; Accepted 30 January 2008

Background: Because malaria in endemic areas presents a serious threat to the health of aircrew, optimal prevention is important. An effective and safe prophylactic antimalarial drug is needed. The combination of 250 mg atovaquone with 100 mg proguanil HCl (atovaquone/proguanil, or A/P) has shown good prophylactic efficacy and tolerance for prevention of falciparum malaria. However, medication for use by aircrew on duty is subject to approval by national and international aviation authorities, who require convincing evidence that the treatment has no negative effects on the flight performance of crews. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the risk of detrimental effects of atovaquone/proguanil on flight-related performance and alertness in healthy subjects under conditions of aircraft cabin pressure.Methods: A randomized, double-blind crossover study was conducted in which 24 subjects were enrolled to use A/P and placebo, each in a 14-day prophylactic dosing regimen with a 21-day washout phase. Vigilance, alertness, complex information processing, and sleepiness were assessed in a hypobaric chamber at 75.2 kPa, which equals the lower limit of commercial aircraft cabin pressure. Furthermore, duration and quality of sleep at home were recorded during the 14 days of drug administration.Results: Twenty-two subjects completed the study. No significant differences were found between the effects of placebo and A/P on vigilance, alertness, complex information processing, sleep duration and quality, and the occurrence of adverse effects.Conclusions: In-flight performance and alertness of aircrew will not be affected by the prophylactic use of A/P during a period of 14 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]