title: Sleep habits, sleepiness and accidents among truck drivers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the quality of sleep, shift work, alcohol and psychostimulant drug use, and the prevalence of accidents among truck drivers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI). Statistical analysis was conducted using the Student t, chi-square, Pearson and Fisher tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  43.2% of the drivers drove over 16 h a day, and 2.9% worked shifts. Mean number of sleep hours/day was 5.97+/-1.47; 23.8% slept <5 hours; 50.9% made use of alcohol, 95.6% of caffeine, and 11.1% of amphetamines. Mean PSQI was 4.95+/-2.56; 35.4% had a PSQI >5; 23 subjects snored more than three times a week (11.1%). Mean ESS was 6.56+/-4.2; 21.7% had a score >10. In the preceding five years, 27 drivers (13.1%) were involved in accidents, 5 of which resulted in injuries and 3 in deaths.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results showed a high prevalence of sleep disorders, use of alcohol and psychostimulant drugs, and accidents.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal. josecarlossouza@uol.com.br
authors.forename: José Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Paiva
authors.forename: Rubens
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reimão
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D006184:Habits; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018986:Motor Vehicles; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012890:Sleep; D020178:Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance / Q000502:physiology