PENYULUHAN BAROTRAUMA DI KAMPUNG TUA TELUK MATA IKAN NONGSA

Barotrauma is an injury caused by pressure imbalance within air-filled cavities (ear, sinuses, lungs, teeth, and gastrointestinal tract), commonly experienced by traditional fishermen divers. Limited knowledge, inadequate prevention skills, and restricted healthcare access increase health risks among coastal communities. This community service program aimed to improve fishermen’s understanding of barotrauma types, early symptoms, prevention, and first aid. The counseling was conducted in Nongsa, Batam through interactive lectures, equalizing technique simulations, group discussions, and pre-test and post-test evaluations involving 45 participants. The results showed a significant increase in knowledge across all aspects: types of barotrauma (42% to 91%; p=0.001), early symptoms (38% to 89%; p=0.001), prevention (35% to 86%; p=0.001), and first aid (28% to 82%; p=0.002). In conclusion, barotrauma counseling effectively enhanced fishermen’s knowledge and awareness, and serves as an essential promotive-preventive strategy to reduce barotrauma risk in coastal communities.