[Commuting accidents: the influence of excessive daytime sleepiness. A review of an Italian Police officers population].

Apr 16, 2008Giornale italiano di medicina del lavoro ed ergonomia

Excessive Daytime Sleepiness and Its Link to Commuting Accidents Among Italian Police Officers

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Abstract

36% of police officers reported excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), which is significantly associated with commuting accidents (CA).

Commuting accidents are linked to higher rates of permanent disablement and death compared to ordinary workplace accidents.
A total of 463 commuting accidents were analyzed involving 411 police officers from 1999 to 2002.
51.9% of the officers worked shifts, while 48.1% were non-shift workers.
A significant relationship was observed between shift work and the presence of excessive daytime sleepiness.
The findings suggest that excessive daytime sleepiness may influence the occurrence of commuting accidents among police officers.

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Commuting accidents (CA) play an important role in many systems of workers' compensation insurance and with good reason, as they generally bring about more serious consequences in terms of permanent disablement and death than ordinary occupational accidents; this usually leads to high social costs. Nevertheless, research investigations aimed at studying the possible causes underlying the phenomenon are not available in medical literature. Objective of the present study is to evaluate whether excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) might influence the occurrence of CA. 463 CA occurred to 411 police officers in northern Italy during the period 1999 - 2002 were collected; 51.9% of the subjects were working on shifts, 48.1% were non-shift workers. The study was carried out by submitting a self-administered questionnaire to gather information on age and physical characteristics, working conditions, sleep-related problems and accidents occurrence; EDS was measured by the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). A large number of workers (36%) complained of EDS; a strict significant relationship between shift - work condition and the presence of EDS was found, thus suggesting that CA are significantly influenced by EDS. The shift work schedule adopted by Italian Police might be accountable for the disruption of the balance between circadian and homeostatic factors.

[Commuting accidents: the influence of excessive daytime sleepiness. A review of an Italian Police officers population].

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