title: Truckers drive their own assessment for obstructive sleep apnea: a collaborative approach to online self-assessment for obstructive sleep apnea.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Commercial motor vehicle drivers are at an increased risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Medical Review Board has recommended that commercial motor vehicle drivers undergo testing for OSA if they have a positive Berlin Questionnaire or a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m(2). We developed an online screening tool based on the Berlin Questionnaire for anonymous use by commercial drivers to assess their risk of OSA prior to their required FMCSA physicals.
  
  
  METHODS
  We based the survey on the Berlin Sleep Questionnaire. The survey was hosted on the Truckers for a Cause Chapter of Alert Well and Keeping Energetic of the American Sleep Apnea Association (TFAC-AWAKE) organization website, and was promoted through the TFAC's XM radio, word of mouth, and trucking industry press contacts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 595 individuals completed the survey. Of these, 55.9% were positive on the Berlin, 78.3% had either hypertension or obesity, 69.6% were obese, 47.6% had a BMI > 33 kg/m(2), and 20.5% reported falling asleep at stoplights.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Some commercial drivers willingly assess their OSA risk anonymously online, and a majority of those who do so are obese, have positive Berlin screening questionnaires, and would be required to undergo polysomnography if recommendations made to the FMCSA became regulation. In contrast to reported behavior during actual Commercial Driver Medical Examinations physicals, some commercial drivers will report OSA symptoms if it is "safe" to do so. Sleep health professionals need expedient, non-punitive methods to keep commercial motor vehicle drivers healthy and driving and to raise drivers' awareness of the dangers of drowsy driving and unhealthy lifestyles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Barbara A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Phillips
mesh_terms: D001334:Automobile Driving; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D018986:Motor Vehicles; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires