Risk factors for fatigue among airline pilots.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study is to determine risk factors for fatigue among airline pilots, taking into account person-, work-, health-, sleep-, and lifestyle-related characteristics.


METHODS
The study population consisted of 502 pilots who participated in the MORE Energy study. Included risk factors were either measured through an online questionnaire or provided by the company. The outcome of this study, fatigue, was assessed using the Checklist Individual Strength (CIS), and was defined as scoring more than 76 points on this questionnaire. The association of the risk factors with fatigue was determined using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.


RESULTS
Of the participating pilots, 29.5 % scored more than 76 points on the CIS and were classified as being fatigued. The fully adjusted regression model showed that person-, work-, health-, and lifestyle-related characteristics were associated with fatigue. Pilots who were aged 31 to 40 (OR 3.36, 95 % CI 1.32-8.53) or 41 to 50 (OR 4.19, 95 % CI 1.40-12.47), an evening type (OR 2.40, 95 % CI 1.38-4.16), scored higher on work-life balance disturbance (OR 1.22, 95 % CI 1.10-1.36), scored higher on need for recovery (OR 1.02, 95 % CI 1.01-1.04), scored lower on general health perception (OR 0.31, 95 % CI 0.20-0.47), were less physically active (OR 0.77, 95 % CI 0.66-0.89), and had a moderate alcohol consumption (OR 3.88, 95 % CI 1.21-12.43), were at higher risk for fatigue.


CONCLUSIONS
Higher age, being an evening type, disturbance of the work-life balance, more need for recovery, a lower perceived health, less physical activity, and moderate alcohol consumption were shown to be risk factors for fatigue. Further longitudinal research is needed to elucidate the direction of the associations found and to evaluate the effects of possible countermeasures in airline pilots.
Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, PO Box 7057, 1007 MB, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.|KLM Health Services, Schiphol Airport, Schiphol, The Netherlands.
Alwin
A
van Drongelen
Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, PO Box 7057, 1007 MB, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. crl.boot@vumc.nl.|Body@Work TNO VUmc, Research Center on Physical Activity, Work and Health, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. crl.boot@vumc.nl.
Cécile R L
CR
Boot
Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, PO Box 7057, 1007 MB, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.|KLM Health Services, Schiphol Airport, Schiphol, The Netherlands.
Hynek
H
Hlobil
Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, PO Box 7057, 1007 MB, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.|KLM Health Services, Schiphol Airport, Schiphol, The Netherlands.
Tjabe
T
Smid
Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, PO Box 7057, 1007 MB, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.|Body@Work TNO VUmc, Research Center on Physical Activity, Work and Health, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Allard J
AJ
van der Beek
D000328:Adult; D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D000401:Aircraft; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000523:psychology*; D000070356:Pilots; D012307:Risk Factors; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance; D000072358:Work-Life Balance; D055815:Young Adult
Airline pilots; Cross-sectional study; Fatigue; Risk factors
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