Development and testing of cost effective approach to screening, diagnosis, and treatment of sleep apnea on commercial motor carriers: Alberta and Texas pilot tests

This presented work involves the development and successful field operational testing of a step-wise, cost effective and practical approach for screening, diagnosis and timely treatment of sleep disorders, as part of a comprehensive fatigue management program which included: sleep disorders screening, diagnosis and treatment, educational modules, operational interventions, pre/post evaluation process. In this sample, 71 percent had at least a mild degree of sleep apnea, with 38 percent of the Alberta drivers warranting intervention and treatment. The sequential approach utilizing ambulatory screening accurately predicted the conditions in 91 percent of tested participants in the pooled Alberta and Texas sample, with no false negatives noted. Of the drivers diagnosed with the condition in Alberta, 78 percent improvement was noted in sleep time, with an increase from mean sleep of 3.9 hours to 6.8 hours on work days. This step-wise, cost effective approach to screening and diagnosing of this condition in an operational environment has been successfully pilot tested with good reception by participating operators, timely access to treatment and intervention when required, and no interference with the individuals work schedule and driving ability.

• Authors:
  • Moscovitch, A
  • Reimer, M
  • Heslegrave-RJ
  • Kealey, M
  • Rhodes, W
• Conference:
  • International Truck and Bus Safety and Security Symposium, 2005, Alexandria, Virginia, USA
• Publication Date: 2005

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 520-7
• Monograph Title: Final proceedings: International Truck and Bus Safety and Security Symposium, November 14-16, 2005, Alexandria, Virginia, USA

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Behavior; Commercial vehicle operations; Cost effectiveness; Drivers; Fatigue (Physiological condition); Heavy vehicles; Highway safety; Sleep
• Uncontrolled Terms: Road safety (human factors)
• Geographic Terms: Alberta, Canada; Texas
• ATRI Terms: Commercial vehicle operations (CVO); Cost effectiveness; Driver behaviour; Heavy vehicle driver; Human fatigue; Road safety; Sleep patterns
• Subject Areas: Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01388676
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ATRI
• Created Date: Aug 23 2012 1:11AM