Factors associated with sleep quality of Thai intercity bus drivers

Ind Health. 2019 Sep 26;57(5):596-603. doi: 10.2486/indhealth.2018-0168. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

Abstract

This study aimed to describe sleep quality and explore factors associated with poor sleep quality in Thai intercity bus drivers. A cross-sectional design was employed with a sample of intercity bus drivers from 4 bus transportation companies. The Thai-PSQI was used to identify sleep quality, and the Thai Berlin Questionnaire used to assess sleep apnea risk. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and logistic regression. A total of 338 surveys were analyzed. All bus drivers were male; almost 66% of the bus drivers were defined as poor sleepers, and 18.1% were assessed as being at high risk for obstructive sleep apnea. Working night shifts (OR=20.6), rotating day or night shifts (OR=17.0), alcohol consumption (OR=2.7), being married (OR=3.1), and not exercising (OR=2.3) were related to poor sleep quality. The majority of the Thai intercity bus drivers in our study reported poor sleep quality indicating that action is required at both company and individual levels to encourage the adoption of healthy lifestyles and improvement of working conditions.

Keywords: Bus drivers; Driving drowsy; Safety; Sleep apnea; Sleep quality; Traffic crashes.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alcohol Drinking
  • Automobile Driving*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Exercise
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Marital Status
  • Middle Aged
  • Occupational Health
  • Risk Factors
  • Shift Work Schedule / adverse effects
  • Sleep
  • Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / epidemiology*
  • Sleep Wake Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Thailand / epidemiology