Design and Usability Testing of a Tailored Intervention About Sleep and Sleep Disorders Among Transportation Workers

Design and Usability Testing of a Tailored Intervention to Increase Awareness About Sleep and Sleep Disorders Among Transportation Workers

The objective of this protocol is to conduct a focus group to identify OSA beliefs, attitudes, and knowledge among employees in the transportation industry on shift schedules.

Transportation shift workers (TSW, e.g., overnight, on-call, or rotating) have been identified as a high-risk group for health conditions (e.g., obesity, cardiovascular disease). Also, TSW are at risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). According to one study, approximately 36% of TSWs have OSA, a condition that exacerbates health risks and daytime sleepiness. A recent report from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) showed that those with untreated OSA cost on average $4,261 more than those without OSA. Also concerning, workers with OSA who are non-adherent to recommended OSA treatment (i.e., continuous positive airway pressure, CPAP) are at particularly high risk for motor vehicle accidents compared to those who are adherent.

This protocol outlines focus groups that will aim to identify knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about OSA among TSW. Results of these focus groups will be used in future research to design a tailored website for relaying OSA information to TSW.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age 18 years or older
2. Access to a smartphone device
3. Commitment to completing all study activities
4. Score 4 or higher (mild or higher on OSA risk) according to the Apnea Risk Evaluation System (ARES) questionnaire.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Significant medical or psychiatric illness according to the PROMIS Short Form (SF-12)
2. No OSA risk (a score below 4 on the ARES).