Obstructive sleep apnea screening during commercial driver medical examinations: a survey of ACOEM members.
OBJECTIVE
To survey American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) members regarding recent consensus guidelines for screening commercial drivers for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).


METHODS
A brief survey instrument was distributed electronically by the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine to its members during February 2008 to April 2008.


RESULTS
Most (92%) of the 552 examiners opined that screening commercial drivers for OSA was important. Nevertheless, only 42% reported screening using consensus guidelines or another specific protocol. Common reasons for not applying the guidelines included unaware (36%), too complicated (12%), client retention (10%), and driver inconvenience (10%). Most would consider using the guidelines going forward but 39% wanted additional evidence and another 21% only if they became the "community standard."


CONCLUSIONS
More education regarding OSA and drivers is needed. A Federal mandate and eliminating "doctor shopping" would likely increase examiners' compliance with screening.
Environmental & Occupational Medicine & Epidemiology Program, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
Gerardo
G
Durand
Stefanos N
SN
Kales
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001334:Automobile Driving; D003625:Data Collection; D006801:Humans; D007586:Job Application; D009787:Occupational Medicine; D010820:Physicians; D011364:Professional Practice; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014186:Transportation / Q000592:standards