1. The Emergency Medical Services Sleep Health Study
- Author
-
United States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Office of Behavioral Safety Research, Patterson, P. D., Martin, S. E., Weaver, M. D., Brassil, B. N., Hsiao, W. H., Okerman, T. I., Seitz, S. T., Patterson, C. G., Messina, O. R., Herbert, B. M., Robinson, K, National Association of State EMS Officials, United States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Office of Behavioral Safety Research, Patterson, P. D., Martin, S. E., Weaver, M. D., Brassil, B. N., Hsiao, W. H., Okerman, T. I., Seitz, S. T., Patterson, C. G., Messina, O. R., Herbert, B. M., Robinson, K, and National Association of State EMS Officials
- Abstract
DTNH2215C00029, While fatigue and poor sleep quality affect more than than half of emergency medical services (EMS) clinicians, there is no known standard for educating and training. For this report the research team created the Fatigue Education Program for Emergency Medical Services, 10 brief education modules based on recommendations from the American College of Occupational Environmental Medicine. The primary aim of this study was to determine if providing education and training to EMS personnel on the importance of sleep health and dangers of fatigue improves indicators of sleep quality and fatigue. The researchers used a pragmatic, cluster-randomized, wait-list control, 6-month study design. The primary outcome was the Pittsburgh sleep quality index -measured sleep quality at 3- and 6-month follow-ups. Intention-to-treat analyses revealed no differences between the intervention and comparison groups in mean sleep quality scores at 3- and 6-month follow-ups. Per protocol analyses showed that the greater the number of modules viewed, compared to no viewings, the greater the improvement in sleep quality and greater the reduction in fatigue. The largest improvement in sleep quality was observed among EMS clinicians who viewed eight to 10 education modules. Given these findings, the Fatigue Education Program for Emergency Medical Services may be a useful resource for EMS administrators who aim to fulfill the 2018 evidence-based guideline recommendation of educating and training EMS workers on sleep and fatigue.