Can Subjective Sleep Problems Detect Latent Sleep Disorders Among Commercial Drivers?
Keywords
Long-haul truck drivers; Subjective sleep problems; Sleep disorders; Sleep health; Roadway safety
Abstract
Introduction Long-haul truck drivers experience poor sleep health and heightened accident rates, and undiagnosed sleep disorders contribute to these negative outcomes. Subjective sleep disorder screening tools may aid in detecting drivers' sleep disorders. This study sought to evaluate the value of subjective screening methods for detecting latent sleep disorders and identifying truck drivers at-risk for poor sleep health and safety-relevant performance. Materials and Methods Using cross-sectional data from 260 long-haul truck drivers, we: 1) used factor analysis to identify possible latent sleep disorders; 2) explored the construct validity of extracted sleep disorder factors by determining their associations with established sleep disorder risk factors and symptoms; and 3) explored the predictive validity of resulting sleep disorder factors by determining their associations with sleep health and safety-relevant performance. Results Five latent sleep disorder factors were extracted: 1) circadian rhythm sleep disorders; 2) sleep-related breathing disorders; 3) parasomnias; 4) insomnias; 5) and sleep-related movement disorders. Patterns of associations between these factors generally corresponded with known risk factors and symptoms. One or more of the extracted latent sleep disorder factors were significantly associated with all the sleep health and safety outcomes. Discussion Using subjective sleep problems to detect latent sleep disorders among long-haul truck drivers may be a timely and effective way to screen this highly mobile occupational segment. This approach should constitute one component of comprehensive efforts to diagnose and treat sleep disorders among commercial transport operators.
Publication Date
1-1-2018
Number of Pages
62-72
Document Type
Article
Language
English
Source Title
Accident Analysis and Prevention
Volume
115
Copyright Status
Unknown
College
Rosen College of Hospitality Management
STARS Citation
Lemke, Michael K.; Apostolopoulos, Yorghos; Hege, Adam; Newman, Sharon; and Sonmez, Sevil, "Can Subjective Sleep Problems Detect Latent Sleep Disorders Among Commercial Drivers?" (2018). Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works. 707.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/ucfscholar/707