Sleep quality in long haul truck drivers: A study on Iranian national data

Abstract

PurposeIran has a high rate of road traffic accidents. Poor quality of sleep brings about loss of attention, which is an important cause of road traffic accidents particularly in monotonous roads. The causes of poor quality of sleep in occupational drivers are multifactorial. The objective of the present study was to assess the prevalence of poor sleep quality among occupational drivers with rotating work schedules and analyze its different risk factors.Methods2200 professional long-haul truck drivers who had been referred to the Occupational Health Clinic for routine education course were invited. We obtained data from eight provinces from various parts of Iran during 2012–2013. Data were collected using a questionnaire including questions about demographic and job characteristics. Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to assess drivers' sleep quality.ResultsMean working (driving) time was (9.3 ± 2.5) hours daily and (55.5 ± 18.29) hours weekly. About 23.5% of the drivers reported history of smoking, 14.5% had low job satisfaction and 60% had irregular work schedule. 16.4% of drivers had an accidents leading to injury during the past five years. The mean PSQI score was 4.2 ± 2.7; 54% had a PSQI>5 (poor quality of sleep). Multivariate logistic regression showed that smoking, job satisfaction, history of accidents, shift work and work hours per day were the most important risk factors for poor sleep quality.ConclusionResults obtained from the current study showed a high prevalence of poor quality of sleep among professional drivers. It warrants more attention to this significant problem using some measures to improve working conditions in professional drivers, as well as health promotion interventions.

Effects of driver work-rest patterns, lifestyle and payment incentives on long-haul truck driver sleepiness

“…Various analysis techniques have been used by the researchers to study the effects of different lifestyle and sleep-related factors on the probability of drowsy driving and associated crash risk. For instance, Girotto et al (2016) and Sadeghniiat-haghighi et al (2016) used multinomial logistic regression and Häkkänen and Summala (2001), Meng et al (2015), Papadakaki et al (2008) and Tzamalouka et al (2005) used logistic regression. Chi-square test (Meng et al, 2015;Williamson & Friswell, 2013), Kruskal-Wallis test (Philip et al, 2002;Sabahiah et al, 2017), Spearmen correlation (Philip et al, 2002), factor analysis (McCartt et al, 2000;Sullman et al, 2002;Tsao, Chang, & Ma, 2017), multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) (Thompson & Stevenson, 2014) and Agent-Based Modeling (ABM) (Thompson et al, 2015) are also some of the commonly used analysis techniques.…”

“…The long working hours and inadequate sleep have been identified as the main reasons for sleepiness while driving among freight vehicle drivers (Papadakaki et al, 2008;Tzamalouka et al, 2005;McCartt et al, 2000;Sadeghniiat-haghighi, Yazdi, & Mohammad, 2016). Therefore, an adequate sleep of minimum seven hours (7h) a day is recommended for safer driving practices (Wheaton et al, 2013;Johnson et al, 2015).…”

“…Duration of work Papadakaki et al, 2008;Tzamalouka et al, 2005;McCartt et al, 2000;Sadeghniiat-haghighi, Yazdi, & Mohammad, 2016;Di Milia et al, 2011;Meng et al, 2015;Häkkänen and Summala, 2001 Long and hectic work schedules increase the odds of driver drowsiness…”

Factores asociados a calidad de sueño en conductores informales de buses interprovinciales a gran altitud geográfica en Perú

“…La literatura refiere valores menores de ICSP y prevalencias. Sadeghniiat (8) reportó en conductores de larga distancia de varias provincias de Irán y una media de 1200 msnm durante el 2012-2013, una puntuación media de ICSP de 5,75 ± 2,7 y una prevalencia del 62,3% con CS alterada. Zubiaut (22) evidenció la relación de CS y somnolencia en 117 conductores de transporte pesado que llegaban hasta 3590 msnm en la provincia de Arequipa en Perú y mencionó una frecuencia de CS patológica del 54,7 %.…”

“…Por atención es consecuencia de la alteración del sueño y consecuentemente de la accidentabilidad (7) . Los conductores de transporte interprovincial generan alteraciones del ritmo biológico del sueño/ vigilia (8,9,10) , sobre todo, aquellos involucrados con jornadas nocturnas/diurnas y situaciones de estrés físico y ambiental. La EIGA condiciona estados fisiológicos que se manifiestan con cefalea, trastornos del sueño, fatiga, mareo e inestabilidad, náuseas y anorexia (11,12) .…”