Sleep habits, fatigue, and sleepiness in Chiclayo-Peru's bus drivers

Abstract

Objective: The objectives of the study are to describe sleep habits, fatigue, and sleepiness in Chiclayo's (Peru) bus drivers and explore their relation with traffic accidents.

Material and methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study with a non-probability consecutive sampling. The sample size was 126 drivers. Sleepiness was evaluated using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and sleep hygiene with validated questionnaires. We used a history of traffic accident or a near-traffic accident as an independent variable and applied chi-squared, t, and Mann-Whitney U tests to evaluate initial associations, which were later tested with a multivariate analysis.

Results: The mean age was 47.8 ± 9, 7 years, all were male. Twenty-seven (21%) bus drivers drove 10 or more hours per day; twenty-seven (21%) drove 5 or more hours without stopping; and eleven (9%) slept less than 6 h per day. Ninety-three (74%) drivers had fatigue while driving; thirty-one (25%) sleepiness; thirty-six (29%) had an accident or near accident; and (35%) had nodding while driving. Nodding while driving (PR 2.13, IC 1.26-3.59, p < 0.01) and the number of years as a driver (PR 1.03, IC 1.00-1.05, p = 0.02) were associated with an accident or near accident.

Conclusion: Fatigue, sleepiness, and a history of accident or near accident were frequent. Having had an accident or near accident was significantly associated with nodding while driving and the number of years as a driver in Chiclayo's bus drivers.

Keywords: Drivers; Fatigue; Sleep hygiene; Sleepiness; Traffic accidents.