ABSTRACT

Sleepiness is an important consideration for workplace safety, especially in relation to shift work. There is limited understanding of how practical applications of countermeasures are used to manage sleepiness in a professional setting. One under-researched group is city bus drivers. This qualitative study investigated the use of individual sleepiness countermeasures within a sample of city bus drivers. Nine semi-structured focus groups were convened to explore the broader experience and management of sleepiness (n = 62, largest proportion aged 45–54 y, mean bus driving experience 13.3 y). The conversations of the focus groups were audio-recorded (total: 682 min) and transcribed anonymously verbatim. Discussions specifically relating to personal countermeasure use were isolated from the original transcripts, creating nine new transcripts for a targeted analysis on the topic of individual countermeasure use. Thematic analysis identified two main themes: (1) strategies used to counteract sleepiness and (2) barriers to individual countermeasure use, each with several subthemes. A variety of countermeasures were used, including strategies with limited potential for counteracting sleepiness, such as opening a window, drinking water, talking, stretching, and consuming forms of sugar. Workplace restrictions, such as access to facilities, limitations of food/drink consumption, and tight schedules, were the strongest influences on countermeasure choice. It is important that bus drivers have access to, and are aware of the effectiveness of, countermeasures to manage sleepiness during shift work. It is vital that the actions of drivers and shift workers are better understood in the planning of organizational countermeasures.

摘要

嗜睡是工作场所安全的重要考虑因素，尤其是在轮班工作中。对如何在专业环境中使用对策的实际应用来管理嗜睡知之甚少。研究不足的一组是城市公交车司机。这项定性研究调查了城市公交车驾驶员样本中个别嗜睡对策的使用。召集了9个半结构化焦点小组，以探索更广泛的经验和嗜睡管理（n = 62，最大比例的年龄为45-54岁，平均公共汽车驾驶经验为13.3y）。焦点小组的对话被录音（总计682分钟），并逐字匿名转录。从原始笔录中分离出专门针对个人对策使用的讨论，创建了九个新的成绩单，以针对个人对策使用的主题进行有针对性的分析。主题分析确定了两个主要主题：（1）用来消除嗜睡的策略；（2）阻止个人采取反措施的障碍，每个都有几个子主题。使用了多种对策，包括抵消困倦潜力的策略，例如打开窗户，喝水，讲话，拉伸和消耗糖分。对工作场所的限制，例如设施的使用，食品/饮料消费的限制以及时间表的紧迫，是对策选择的最大影响。重要的是，公交车司机必须掌握并意识到应对措施在轮班工作中应对困倦的有效性。