Conscientiousness and work performance while suffering from acute mountain sickness: a case report.
A 52-yr-old male scientist who participated in a geophysical survey in Antarctica from a field camp located at 3538 m (11,600 ft) experienced specific symptoms of acute mountain sickness (AMS) by Mission Day 9, and full syndrome AMS by Mission Day 12. He was treated at the field camp and evacuated to sea level on the next available flight (Mission Day 15). The concerns of this highly conscientious individual that initial signs of illness, such as fatigue with exertion, could be misinterpreted by others as poor work performance are described. The report focuses on individual personality and group processes that could lead to nondisclosure of symptoms, and the need, particularly in long-duration missions in which evacuation is difficult or impossible, to sensitize personnel to the importance of recognizing and reporting potential health problems.
Leon
Gloria R
GR
Department of Psychology at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455, USA. leonx003@tc.umn.edu
D000064:Acclimatization; D000208:Acute Disease; D000532:Altitude Sickness / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010551:Personality; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis