RESUMEN
Background: Improving psychosocial work environment of long-distance bus drivers is essential for their psychological well-being and on-the-road safety. Despite the importance of the work environment of bus drivers, it has received little research attention in Ghana and other developing nations. Hence, this study examined the influence of psychosocial work factors (job demands and job resources) on safety incidents of long-distance bus drivers and how psychological well-being mediates this association. Methods: This cross-sectional survey sampled 7315 long-distance bus drivers who commute from the cities of Accra and Tema to other parts of Ghana and other cities in the West Africa sub-region. Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to test four hypotheses. Findings: The results suggest that job demands and job resources have direct association with safety incidents of the long-distance bus drivers. The psychological well-being of the bus drivers played a partial mediation role in the association between psychosocial work factors and safety incidents of the drivers. Conclusion: The job demand-resource model provides a useful model for understanding the impact of the work environment on driving performance among these long-distance bus drivers. Providing the drivers with high job control and supportive work culture can equip and support them to value the critical roles they play in the transport sector. Managers of bus transport companies and individual bus owners should implement effective communication strategies like the bottom-up communication approach, conduct periodic assessments to identify and address drivers' precarious work conditions, create safety on the road, and reduce crashes and associated fatalities.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Tobacco use remains a major cause of preventable deaths worldwide. The recent Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2016-2017 has shown the prevalence of tobacco use among Indian population to be 28.6%. In Maharashtra, 35.5% of all adult males either smoke tobacco or use some form of smokeless tobacco. Not much data are available on tobacco use with respect to different occupations in India, though risk of tobacco use is known to be higher among individuals in certain occupations. METHODS: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 190 long-distance bus drivers and conductors of long route buses departing from one of the main bus stations of the State Transport Corporation in Pune city. Data were collected using a pretested, structured questionnaire by interview method. RESULTS: Prevalence of tobacco consumption (TC) among the respondents was 55.8% (95% confidence interval; 48.4-63). Among the tobacco users, 54% reported initiation at age <18 years "peer pressure" and "curiosity" were the main reasons for initiation while "feeling alert" and "feeling mature" were reasons for continued use. A large proportion (74.5%) of the respondents expressed their intention to quit tobacco in the near future. CONCLUSION: Long-distance bus drivers and conductors showed a high prevalence of TC which may be linked to certain occupation-related factors. Targeted tobacco cessation activities at workplaces may be considered as a strategy for better impact of tobacco control activities in India.