RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Abnormal excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) has been reported worldwide, but too little is known about EDS and its determinants in Search and Rescue (SAR) populations. We aimed to determine the prevalence of abnormal EDS and contributing factors among Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF) SAR helicopter personnel.METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, a total of N = 175 RNoAF SAR personnel completed an electronic survey including socio-demographic and lifestyle questions. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) was used as both a continuous and categorical outcome variable to measure EDS.RESULTS: Abnormal EDS defined by ESS was found in 41% of the participants in this study. We observed no associations between socio-demographic and lifestyle factors and abnormal EDS in this study. DISCUSSION: There is a high prevalence of abnormal EDS in the current RNoAF SAR population. Despite this elevated level of fatigue, we did not find that the socio-demographic and lifestyle factors assessed in this study were associated with abnormal EDS in RNoAF SAR helicopter personnel. Also unusually, the study cohort did not demonstrate higher scores in factors found to change ESS scores in similar study populations (e.g., caffeine use, tobacco use, exercise level). Further research is required to investigate other factors (organizational, operational) that may be associated with abnormal EDS in this and other SAR populations.Akter R, Larose TL, Sandvik J, Fonne V, Meland A, Wagstaff AS. Excessive daytime sleepiness and associated factors in military search and rescue personnel. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2021; 92(12):975-979.
Asunto(s)
Trastornos de Somnolencia Excesiva , Personal Militar , Estudios Transversales , Trastornos de Somnolencia Excesiva/epidemiología , Humanos , Trabajo de Rescate , Encuestas y CuestionariosRESUMEN
Objective: This study sought to determine if mindfulness training (MT) has a measurable impact on stress and attentional control as measured by objective physiological and psychological means. Background: Periods of persistent, intensive work demands are known to compromise recovery and attentional capacity. The effects of 4-month MT on salivary cortisol and performance on 2 computer-based cognitive tasks were tested on a military helicopter unit exposed to a prolonged period of high workload. Methods: MT participants were compared to a wait list control group on levels of saliva cortisol and performance on a go-no go test and a test of stimulus-driven attentional capture. Participants also reported mental demands on the go-no go test, time of wakeup, sleep duration, quality of sleep, outcome expectancies, physical activity level, self-perceived mindfulness, and symptoms of depression and anxiety. Results: The results from a mixed between-within analysis revealed that the MT participants compared to the control group had a larger pre to post increase in high- and low-cortisol slopes, and decrease in perceived mental demand imposed by the go-no go test. Conclusion: MT alleviates some of the physiological stress response and the subjective mental demands of challenging tasks in a military helicopter unit during a period of high workload.