Advancing the Safety, Health, and Well-Being of Commercial Driving Teams Who Sleep in Moving Semi-Trucks: The Tech4Rest Pilot Study. Issue 12 (December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Olson, Ryan; Johnson, Peter; Shea, Steven A.; Marino, Miguel; Rimby, Jarred; Womak, Kelsey; Wang, Fangfang; Springer, Rachel; Donovan, Courtney; Rice, Sean P.M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of occupational and environmental medicine. Volume 62:Issue 12(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-12
• Subjects: behavioral intervention -- commercial truck drivers -- fatigue -- hierarchy of controls -- mattress -- physical activity -- seat -- sleep -- sleep hygiene -- team truck drivers; Medicine, Industrial -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; Occupational Medicine -- Periodicals; Environmental Medicine -- Periodicals; Environmental health; Medicine, Industrial; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9803
• DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002063
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1076-2752

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: To test the feasibility, acceptability, and potential effectiveness of engineering and behavioral interventions to improve the sleep, health, and well-being of team truck drivers (dyads) who sleep in moving semi-trucks. Methods: Drivers ( n = 16) were exposed to Condition A: a new innerspring mattress, and Condition B: a novel therapeutic mattress. A subsample of drivers ( n = 8) were also exposed to Condition C: use of their preferred mattress (all chose to keep B), switching to an active suspension driver's seat, and completing a behavioral sleep-health program. Primary outcomes were sleep duration, sleep quality, and fatigue. Behavioral program targets included physical activity and sleep hygiene. Results: Self-reported sleep and fatigue improved with mattress A, and improved further with mattress B which altered vibration exposures and was universally preferred and kept by all drivers. Condition C improved additional targets and produced larger effect sizes for most outcomes. Conclusions: Results support these interventions as promising for advancing team truck drivers' sleep, health, and well-being.