Comparison of alertness levels in ship crew. An experiment on rotating versus fixed watch schedules.
A short pilot study was conducted during a shipboard training deployment to compare alertness levels in the same crew members while working a fixed watch schedule, and then a rotating watch schedule. Alertness levels were assessed before and after each duty watch using measurements of oculomotor function (Fitness Impairment Tester). Saccadic velocity was shown to have the greatest correlation with duration of sleep deprivation and was significantly slower (indicating decreased alertness) in the crew working the rotating watch schedule than the crew working the fixed watch schedule. This pilot study corroborates previous studies' recommendations that fixed watch schedules allow better acclimatization of sleep patterns, thus minimizing fatigue and increasing operational alertness.
Arulanandam
Shalini
S
Navy Medical Service, Republic of Singapore Navy.
Tsing
Gregory Chan Chung
GC
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D053483:Eye Movement Measurements / Q000295:instrumentation; D005221:Fatigue / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D009326:Naval Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012438:Saccades / Q000502:physiology; D012767:Ships; D020178:Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm / Q000503:physiopathology; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000502:physiology*; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*; D000078329:Workforce