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DAN Medical Research
U.S. Navy Flying After Diving : FAQs
What is the study about?
The USN Flying After Diving Study is designed to evaluate the effect of altitude exposure following diving on the production of circulating bubble production and / or the development of decompression sickness.
Where do we go diving?
This study involved a dry chamber dive followed by a chamber flight to 8,000 feet / 2,438 meters after a surface interval. All trials are conducted at the Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Environmental Physiology (Hyperbaric Center) in Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC.
Do I bring any gear? What should I wear?
Dive gear is not required for this dry chamber study. Cotton "scrubs" (pants and shirt) will be issued to all subjects to wear in the chamber. We ask that females wear a two-piece bathing suit, shorts and halter top or aerobic-type top and bottoms. The abdomen, front and back and the chest and legs need to be exposed for the physical examination. The abdomen and as much of the rib cage as possible need to be accessible to facilitate the ultrasound monitoring.
How do we receive our compensation?
Participants are paid by check sent to the address supplied on the Compensation Form (DUMC Research Subject Registration Form). Usually, you may expect checks to arrive within four to five weeks.
What is a typical study like?
Participants will need to be at the Hyperbaric Center on Friday for physical examination, briefing, and body composition and ultrasound assessments. The dive follows, usually three hours from arrival. There is a one-hour medical watch after the dive. The flight is scheduled for Saturday. There is a four-hour medical watch after the flight. There also will be an interview on Sunday morning, in person, with the study physician.
Medical / Physical evaluations are conducted prior to the dive (baseline), immediately post-dive, four hours post-dive, the morning after the dive, and Sunday morning. All interviews are conducted in person with the study physician on the dive and flight days and the morning following the flight. The 48-hour interview will be by phone.
What can I bring inside the chamber?
You may bring a limited amount of reading material (excluding newsprint), but no electronic devices (e.g., pagers, cell phones, computers, CD players, or electronic games).
What if I develop symptoms?
The Hyperbaric Center conducts both clinical and research exposures. Any research subject developing symptoms associated with the study during or following the dive / flight exposures will receive immediate medical care at no cost to them. Protocols are in place to ensure the timely response and management of cases.
What is a typical trial schedule?
Experiments can take one or two days plus follow-up. The dive and flight activities are combined into a single day when short surface intervals are being tested.
Example Study Schedule (based on a long [24-hour] surface interval). Please be advised that this is a sample schedule. The study schedule that you will be participating in will be sent to you by DAN Research at least one week prior to the study date.
Day 1
8:00 Subjects assemble at the lab
8:00 - 8:30 Complete paperwork, dress in scrubs
8:30 - 9:00 Study Brief
9:00 - 10:00 Physicals and Baseline Doppler exams
10:00 - Chamber briefing and commence dive
13:00 - End dive / Start medical watch
13:30 - 14:00 Doppler
14:00 - Lunch
16:00 - Interview with physician and release
Day 2
12:00 - Subjects assemble at the lab
12:00 - 13:00 Interview with physician
13:00 - Start flight
17:00 - End flight
17:30 - 19:30 - Dinner
20:00 - Interview with physician and release
Day 3
AM interview with physician at the Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Environmental Physiology Day 4
Phone interview