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Inadequate Sleep Quality On‐and Off‐duty Among Central Texas Male Firefighters
Author(s) -
Hernandez Ladia M.,
Loza Colleen,
Dong Kane,
Forman Michele R
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.31.1_supplement.lb445
Subject(s) - medicine , pittsburgh sleep quality index , sleep (system call) , depression (economics) , environmental health , anthropometry , gerontology , sleep quality , physical therapy , demography , insomnia , psychiatry , macroeconomics , sociology , computer science , economics , operating system
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, firefighters have one of the highest rates of illnesses and injuries of all occupations. Occupational stress is associated with diseases and health issues seen in emergency responders. It has been established that poor sleep quality, sleep disruption and inadequate sleep among the most important causes of occupational‐stress. Chronic sleep loss in addition to long work hours are associated with adverse health consequences. Poor sleep quality has been linked to increased prevalence of obesity, Type 2 diabetes, anxiety, depression, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). The Exploring Health and Lifestyle in Firefighters Study (EHLF) seeks to identify risk factors and improve disease outcomes in firefighters. The present study aims to evaluate overall sleep quality of Central Texas firefighters – specifically, the differences between the on‐duty and off‐duty days as well as seasonal effects. Demographics, health history, anthropometrics, clinical data, and sleep quality data were collected for 79 male firefighters. The validated Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was administered for Department A over summer of 2014 and winter of 2014–2015 and for Department B over summer of 2015 and winter of 2016. PSQI questionnaires were administered during both seasons to independently evaluate on‐duty sleep quality and off‐duty sleep quality. PSQI total scores indicated that 76% of firefighters reported poor sleep quality during the summer on‐duty period and 43% reported poor sleep quality during off‐duty days. During the winter on‐duty period, 77% reported poor sleep quality whereas for the winter‐off duty period, 44% reported poor sleep quality. These results, for the first time, highlight the need to address the sleep quality of firefighters while on‐ and off‐duty. The majority of firefighters reported poor sleep quality while on‐duty, which has acute and chronic health implications. Future research should focus on identifying methods to improve on‐duty sleep quality in firefighters.