Online Program

338676
Inadequate Sleep as a Risk Factor for Drowsy Driving and Drowsy Working Behaviors


Sunday, November 1, 2015

Meghan Shewmake, MA, BS, Department of Health Science, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Sarah Pember, BA, MT, CHES, Department of Health Science, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Adam Knowlden, CHES, MBA, MS, Ph.D., Department of Health Science, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Background. Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of mortality for young adults 18 to 24 years of age. Short sleep duration is a proposed risk factor for motor vehicle fatalities and occupational injuries within this age group. The purpose of this study was to determine if drowsy driving and drowsy work behaviors differed according to self-reported sleep duration. Methods. Data were collected from a participant pool of university students. Survey items were derived from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Group differences were analyzed using a series of Mann-Whitney U tests. Sample size was determined using power analysis (α = 0.05, 1-β = 0.80, d = 0.35). Results. Analysis found 45.4% of 261 respondents received less than 7 hours of sleep on average each night, 18.2% reported falling asleep at least one time while driving, and 35.2% reported falling asleep at least one time while working during the previous 30 days. Sleep duration was lower (Mnd=6.00; m place = 111.81) for participants reporting drowsy driving behaviors compared to those with greater sleep duration (Mdn=7.00, m place = 135.32; U=4191.000, p=0.044). Further analysis found sleep duration was lower (Mnd=6.00; m place = 114.45) for participants reporting drowsy working behaviors compared to those with greater sleep duration (Mnd=7.00; m place = 139.71; U=6205.500, p=0.008). Conclusions. Participants obtaining 6 or fewer hours of sleep reported greater drowsy working and driving behaviors. Interventions designed to increase sleep duration in this demographic may reduce motor vehicle and occupational injuries.

Learning Areas:

Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Occupational health and safety
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines

Learning Objectives:
Discuss the relationship between inadequate sleep and unintentional injuries. Describe the process of designing an instrument that incorporates theoretical constructs for evaluating sleep quality. Evaluate a sleep-based intervention to reduce unintentional occupational and vehicular injuries.

Keyword(s): Motor Vehicles, Occupational Health and Safety

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have conceptualized the study, developed the inclusion criteria, collected the data, and analyzed the data.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.