Development of underwater and hyperbaric medicine as a medical specialty in Turkey

Abstract

Underwater and hyperbaric medicine focuses on diving physiology, prevention and treatment of health problems related to the exposure to high ambient pressure and therapeutic use of hyperbaric oxygen for several medical conditions. Adequate educational standards should be developed for physicians working in the field of underwater and hyperbaric medicine. In Turkey, underwater and hyperbaric medicine is one of the medical specialties. The history of underwater and hyperbaric medicine as a medical specialty is dated back to the 1960s. In this paper, we review standards and the development of underwater and hyperbaric medicine as a medical specialty in Turkey.