title: Experience and limited lighting may affect sleepiness of tunnel workers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Working on shifts, especially on a night shift, influences the endogenous sleep regulation system leading to diminished sleep time and increased somnolence. We attempted to evaluate the impact of shifts on sleepiness and correlate the sleepiness score to the experience in a shift schedule.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study consists of 42 male and 2 female workers involved in a tunnel construction. They underwent spirometry, pulse oximetry and were asked to complete the Epworth Sleepiness Scale questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistical analysis revealed that workers of lower Epworth had a mean age of 43.6 years, compared to the mean age of 36.4 years of workers with higher Epworth. Furthermore, workers of lower Epworth were characterized by a mean number of shift years equal to 14.8, while those of higher Epworth possessed a mean number of shift years equal to 8. The shift schedule did not reveal any statistically significant correlation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Workers employed for a longer time had diminished sleepiness. However, there is no relationship between night shifts and sleepiness, possibly because of exposure to artificial lighting in the construction site.
authors.forename: Dimosthenis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lykouras
authors.forename: Kiriakos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Karkoulias
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Patouchas
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lakoumentas
authors.forename: Fotis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sampsonas
authors.forename: Magdalini-Konstantina
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Tranou
authors.forename: Evanthia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Faliagka
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsakalidis
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, University of Patras, University Hospital of Patras, Rio, Patras 26500, Greece. spircos@upatras.gr.
authors.forename: Kostas
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Spiropoulos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D060389:Construction Industry; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006970:Disorders of Excessive Somnolence / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D008029:Lighting; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010092:Oximetry; D013147:Spirometry; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000502:physiology*; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*; D017132:Workplace / Q000458:organization & administration