Health habits and risk factors among truck drivers visiting a health booth during a trucker trade show.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this report is to provide general information on the personal characteristics, health status, and health interests reported by long-haul truck drivers.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey was conducted based on a convenience sample. Statistical independence between comparison groups for driver type, age, and gender were tested with the Pearson chi-square test.


METHODS
The study population consisted of truck drivers who stopped at one of 65 truck stops participating in a trucker trade show.


METHODS
Subjects were 2,945 male self-identified truck drivers and 353 female self-identified truck drivers who visited health booths at the trade show.  It was estimated that two thirds of visitors to the health booth participated.


METHODS
A self-administered, close-ended questionnaire recorded the participant's personal characteristics, health status, and health interests.  Blood pressure was measured by trained volunteers.


RESULTS
A large percentage of male truck drivers smoked cigarettes (54% vs. 30% of U.S. white males), did not exercise regularly (92%), were overweight (50% vs. 25% of U.S. white males), and/or were not aware they had high blood pressure (66% vs. 46% of U.S. population). Also, 23% of surveyed truck drivers tested positive on one measure of alcoholism.


CONCLUSIONS
Although a scientific sample frame was not used, the health status and lifestyle observed in this study suggest truck drivers would clearly benefit from a health education and promotion program.  The truck stops should be evaluated as a possible setting for such a program.
Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles.
J J
JJ
Korelitz
A A
AA
Fernandez
V J
VJ
Uyeda
G H
GH
Spivey
B L
BL
Browdy
R T
RT
Schmidt
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001334:Automobile Driving; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires