title: The prevalence of sleep problems in emergency medical technicians.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the prevalence, demographic, and work associations of self-reported sleep complaints in US emergency medical technicians (EMTs)
  
  
  METHODS
  The mailed 2005 Longitudinal Emergency Medical Technician Attributes and Demographics Study (LEADS) questionnaire was distributed to selected EMTs that included 35 sleep-related questions. Questions were adapted from previously validated sleep medicine surveys, including the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and were used to estimate the prevalence of different sleep problems. These sleep problems were analyzed in relation to demographic, health, satisfaction, and workplace characteristics. Responses of individuals who were not working as EMTs were used as a comparison group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sleep problems in working EMTs were more prevalent than in a comparison group. Seventy percent of working EMTs had at least one sleep problem. The most common sleep problem was a risk of long sleep onset disorder (50%). EMTs with tiredness-related work difficulties were more than 50% as likely to report this problem. The prevalence of excessive daytime sleepiness (ESS > 10) was 36%; 6% of the EMTs had an ESS > 16. EMTs reporting tiredness-related work difficulties were more than twice as likely to have ESS scores >10 and more than three times as likely to ESS scores >16. Symptom-defined risk of sleep apnea was present in 5%. Risks of sleep onset and maintenance disorder problems were more prevalent among those who worked longer shifts and had longer work weeks and were associated with poorer job satisfaction and poorer health.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Severe sleep problems and severe sleepiness at a level that may contribute to health and job issues are common in US EMTs. Although breathing disorders are common, behaviorally related sleep issues are more prevalent. These data support an increased focus on sleep onset and maintenance disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
authors.forename: Ronald G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Pirrallo
authors.forename: Catherine C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Loomis
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.forename: B Tucker
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Woodson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006970:Disorders of Excessive Somnolence / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D004634:Emergency Medical Technicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013019:South Africa; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance