Content area
Full Text
RESEARCH ABSTRACT
This pilot intervention study evaluated the effect of feedback actigraphy on sleep and sleep-related variables in a group of long-haul truck drivers. Visual feedback from actigraphs provided cues to the truck drivers, alerting them to their accumulated sleep times. Exposure to the cues was hypothesized to lead truck drivers to modify their behavior and result in improvement in sleep and sleep-related variables. It was predicted that exposure to feedback actigraphy would be associated with more sleep (quantity), better sleep (quality), a more positive attitude toward sleep, less subjective sleepiness, and increased control over sleep behavior by the sample.
American long-haul truck drivers deliver freight between distant points in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. These workers operate tractor-trailers during all hours of the day and night, in all weather, road, and traffic conditions (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2007). Because of the demands of shippers and consignees, the truck drivers' schedules may be erratic and unpredictable (Belzer, 2000; Ouelett, 1994).
DRIVING AND SLEEP RESTRICTION, OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA, AND SHORT SLEEP DURATION
Driving performance consistently worsens in sleep-loss states and is influenced by circadian rhythm (De Valck & Cluydts, 2001; Lenne, Triggs, & Redman, 1997) and time on task (Moller, Kayumov, Bulmash, Nhan, & Sharpio, 2006; Otmani, Pebayle, Roge, & Muzet, 2005; Phillip, Taillard, Quera-Salva, Bioulac, & Akerstedt, 1999). Maintenance of lane position, reaction time, steering, and speed deviation (Ingre et al., 2006; Moller et al., 2006; Otmani et al., 2005; Philip & Akerstedt, 2006; Phillip et al., 1999) and incidences of simulator "crashes" (Moller et al., 2006) all worsen in sleep-loss states. Impairment of sleep-deprived individuals has been shown to be comparable to that of individuals with blood alcohol levels of 0.7% (Fairclough & Graham, 1999), 0.5%, and 0.8% (Arnedt, Wilde, Munt, & MacLean, 2001).
Impaired driving performance by truckers may not result from a single etiology such as sleep deprivation. The prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea among long-haul truck drivers varies from greater than 78% (n = 159) (Stoohs, Bingham, Itoi, Guilleminault, & Dement, 1995) to just more than 28% (Pack, Dinges, & Maislin, 2002). This is much higher than the prevalence rate of 2% to 4% reported in population studies (Lee, Nagubadi, Kryger, & Mokhlesi, 2008). Patients with sleep apnea demonstrate...