Exploring knowledge and attitudes of taxi drivers with regard to obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome
Ridvan T Firestone, Philippa H Gander
Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) is a medical condition where a sufferers airway is repetitively blocked completely or partially during evening sleep. It results in fragmented sleep, daytime sleepiness, high risk of motor vehicle accidents, and poor cognitive functioning. There is research that suggests that OSAS may be highly prevalent among professional drivers. Our study examined taxi drivers attitudes about symptoms of OSAS (i.e. excessive daytime sleepiness, having a large neck size as a proxy measure of Body Mass Index (BMI), snoring, and whether they stopped breathing at night (as observed by their bed partners) and how these views influenced their health and safety behaviours as professional passenger drivers. We found that there is a lack of knowledge about OSAS symptoms and how they are managed by the health professional, driver, and company managers. This lack of awareness has led to drivers avoiding addressing these issues due to fear of loss of employment and income. Clear guidelines for professional drivers, company managers, and healthcare professionals on the diagnosis and management of sleep disorders among drivers, and the potential consequences for driver licensing is needed.
