title: Firefighter Shift Schedules Affect Sleep Quality.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and severity of firefighter sleep quality across department shift schedules.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sleep quality was assessed using a Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index in a sample of 109 male career firefighters from six fire departments in three Southwestern US states. The three shift schedules studied were 24on/48off, 48on/96off, and Kelly.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-three percent of firefighters report poor sleep quality. The 24on/48off shift schedule is associated with the best sleep quality and Kelly is associated with the worst sleep quality. Firefighters working second jobs report significantly poorer sleep quality than those who do not.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Shift schedules that disrupt normal circadian rhythms more result in poorer sleep quality, which can lead to less effective emergency response and increased risk to firefighter health and safety.
authors.affiliation: Fire and Emergency Management Administration Graduate Program, Department of Political Science, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma.
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Billings
authors.forename: Will
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Focht
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D061388:Firefighters; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health; D012890:Sleep; D020178:Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015206:Southwestern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult