Citation

Evans KA, Yap T, Turner B. Workplace Health Saf. 2017; 65(10): 487-492.

Affiliation

Duke University School of Nursing.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, American Association of Occupational Health Nurses, Publisher SAGE Publications)

DOI

10.1177/2165079917692597

PMID

28414584

Abstract

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a disorder characterized by a cessation of breathing during sleep, leading to poor sleep patterns and daytime somnolence. Daytime somnolence is of particular concern for commercial vehicle drivers, whose crash risk increases 50% with untreated OSA. The process of diagnosing and treating OSA in commercial drivers begins with effective and consistent screening. Therefore, the researchers screened drivers with both the STOP-Bang Questionnaire and the Obstructive Sleep Apnea Evaluation Worksheet (OSAEW) and compared the two tools. Drivers screening positive on the STOP-Bang Questionnaire, OSAEW, and both questionnaires were 28%, 23%, and 13%, respectively. Sleep study referrals were made for 50 drivers; 12 drivers were scheduled for sleep tests within 3 months. Health care provider referral rates for drivers screening at high risk (37%) and commercial driver monitoring rates (24%) were both low. Recommendations to improve OSA screening and testing practices include Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration-mandated screening and referral guidelines, employee-facilitated sleep testing, and OSA awareness campaigns.

Language: en

Keywords

Department of Transportation medical examinations; Epworth Sleepiness Scale; Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration; STOP-Bang Questionnaire; commercial drivers; motor vehicle accidents; obstructive sleep apnea; screening for obstructive sleep apnea; screening tool; traffic accidents