title: Lone workers attitudes towards their health: views of Ontario truck drivers and their managers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Truck driving is the second most common occupation among Canadian men. Transportation of goods via roads is of crucial importance for the Canadian economy. The industry is responsible annually for $17 billion in GDP and is projected to increase by 28% over the next 10 years. Recruitment is an issue with 20% of drivers projected to retire or leave the profession in the next 10 years. Despite the reliance on transport truck drivers for the delivery of goods which affects Canada's economy and daily living of residents, little is known about the health care needs of this large cohort of primarily male lone workers from a drivers' perspective. Transport truck drivers are independent workers whose non traditional workplace is their tractor, the truck stops and the journey on the road.The objective of this study was to obtain a contextually informed description of lifestyle issues, health and disease risk factors experienced by drivers and perceived by their managers in the truck driving occupation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a grounded theory approach, 4 focus groups were conducted with drivers (n = 16) and managers (n = 10) from two trucking companies in Southwestern Ontario to identify the lived experience of the drivers as it relates to preventable risks to health and wellness. A semi structured guided interview was used to explore the lifestyle context of transport truck driving and organizational aspects of the occupation (workplace culture, working conditions and health and wellness promotion).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The predominant themes described stress, workplace, communication, lifestyle, driving culture, family, and fatigue concerns. In terms of the transportation work environment, drivers and managers were aware of the profession's potential to foster lifestyle related chronic diseases but described challenges in making the profession more amenable to a healthy lifestyle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Workplace environmental determinants are significant in shaping health behaviours. Chronic disease health risks were the main health concerns identified. Health risks were exacerbated by working conditions (job demands, work hours, financial pressure and the sedentary nature of the job). Workplace health strategies will need to take into account the unique challenges of the occupation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, McMaster Innovation Park, Suite 201A, 175 Longwood Road South, Hamilton, ON L8P 0A1, Canada. bmcdon@mcmaster.ca.
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: McDonough
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Angeles
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dolovich
authors.forename: Francine
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marzanek-Lefebvre
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Riva
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Laryea
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology*; D003142:Communication; D003469:Culture; D005190:Family; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D018986:Motor Vehicles; D016272:Occupational Health; D009864:Ontario; D010559:Personnel Management; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology; D000078329:Workforce; D017132:Workplace; D055815:Young Adult