Understanding sleep behaviors and barriers to OSA evaluation and treatment among highway maintenance vehicle operators

Poor sleep and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are prevalent among transportation workers. 45 transportation workers from worksites in the Northeast US completed surveys assessing 1) sleepiness, 2) OSA, and 3) OSA stage of change, then participated in focus groups or interviews. Participants were 93.2% male, 90.1% white non-Hispanic. 77.8% scored high risk for OSA, while 11.1% of those at risk reported an OSA diagnosis. Only 31.4% of high risk participants reported having contemplated OSA evaluation or treatment. Qualitative themes pertained to difficulty unwinding, uncertain work hours, fears about and barriers to OSA treatment, and misinformation about OSA. Results reveal a high prevalence of OSA risk and a low rate of diagnosis and OSA readiness to change. We identify themes for future interventions to improve awareness about OSA among transportation workers.