A study of USAF air traffic controller shiftwork: sleep, fatigue, activity, and mood analyses.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the shift-specific sleep, general activity levels, mood and cognitive performance of air traffic controllers (ATCs) working a forward 2-2-2 rapid rotation shift schedule.


OBJECTIVE
ATCs are more fatigued on the night-shift.


METHODS
ATCs recorded their sleep, oral temperature and subjective fatigue levels, took a computerized cognitive performance battery (n = 13) and completed the Profile of Mood States questionnaire (POMS) (n = 12). Actigraphs were used to objectively monitor general activity levels and score sleep and the restfullness of scored sleep (n = 9). Analyses were made on the basis of duty shift, post-shift, day of shift, and duty location.


RESULTS
There was significantly more actigraph scored sleep (85 min, p = 0.038), subjectively reported sleep (26 min, p = 0.009) and subjectively measured fatigue (p < 0.001) and confusion (p = 0.003) for the ATCs while they were on-duty on the night-shift. The night-shift was also associated with decreased vigor (p = 0.039) and general activity levels (p = 0.017). Significantly more sleep was reported (7.6 h, p = 0.01) and scored by actigraph (4.7 h, p = 0.02) following the swing-shift than following the day-shift. The radar approach ATCs reported greater confusion (p = 0.019) and less vigor (p = 0.002) than the tower ATCs. Insufficient trials were available for direct performance analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
ATCs on the night-shift of a forward rapid rotation shift schedule appear to be falling asleep and report increased confusion and fatigue. Further study is indicated.
Luna
T D
TD
U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks AFB, TX 96266-5823, USA.
French
J
J
Mitcha
J L
JL
D000339:Affect; D001359:Aviation; D001831:Body Temperature; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003071:Cognition; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D017286:Polysomnography; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D016526:Workload