Evaluation of Sleep Quality in Bus drivers in Tehran

Human beings, like other creatures, have biological and circadian rhythm. Survey studies have shown that shift work and high variability of working hours disrupt our circadian rhythms, resulting in inadequate sleep quality. The aim of this descriptive and analytical study was to investigate the bus driver's sleep quality. This study was carried out on 110 bus drivers in Tehran (South, East and West terminals, 60, 30 and 20 drivers, respectively). To determine sleep quality, the Pittsburg Sleep Quality (PSQI) model was employed. The mean age for the drivers was 41.9± 9.7 years, of whom 92.7% and 7.3% were married and single, respectively. Meanwhile, the mean working time and BMI index for the drivers were 15.6± 8.7 years and 25.9 ± 3.9 kg/m2, respectively. Overall, 21.8% of drivers have good sleep quality, while 78.2 % have sleep disorders. Statistical analysis of the data revealed that variables like job satisfaction, the night staying at home, and sleep disorders were significant (P< 0.05). This observation suggests that night shift work might have provoked changes in sleep quality of the bus drivers. Directed researches and education may pave the ground for traffic incidents decreases.