@article{ref1,
title="Prevalence of sleepiness in a group of Brazilian lorry drivers",
journal="Public health",
year="2005",
author="John, A. B. and Canani, S. F. and Raymundi, M. G. and Schonwald, S. and Menna Barreto, S. S.",
volume="119",
number="10",
pages="925-929",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of sleepiness in a group of Brazilian lorry drivers. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: This study used a self-administrated questionnaire and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). The questionnaire included questions regarding demographic features, professional data, sleep habits, night-time symptoms, excessive daytime sleepiness and history of previous automobile accidents. RESULTS: Four hundred and thirty-eight male drivers, aged 34.2+/-9.5 years (mean+/-SD), were included in the study. The mean number of hours spent driving each day was 9.2+/-2.6h, compared with 4.5+/-2.3h for the night shift. The median distance covered weekly was 1200km (range 70-6000km). The most common sleep complaints were insomnia (26.6%), loud snoring (45%) and witnessed apnoea (7.6%). Eighty-six of 392 (22%) drivers reported falling asleep while driving, and 11 (2.8%) subjects indicated falling asleep daily or almost daily. One hundred and seventy-one drivers (39%) had been involved in a traffic accident, and 21 of 128 drivers (16.4%) indicated sleepiness as a possible contributing factor. The ESS was higher than 10 points in 120 (28%) of the interviewees. CONCLUSIONS: Sleepiness is a prevailing symptom in lorry drivers and is probably related to accidents.",
language="",
issn="0033-3506",
doi="10.1016/j.puhe.2005.03.007",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2005.03.007"
}