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Sleep and Sleepiness Measured by Diaries and Actigraphy among Norwegian and Austrian Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) Pilots

Author

Listed:
  • Tine Almenning Flaa

    (Department of Research and Development, The Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation, 0184 Oslo, Norway
    Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, 5009 Bergen, Norway)

  • Bjørn Bjorvatn

    (Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, 5009 Bergen, Norway
    Norwegian Competence Center for Sleep Disorders, 5021 Bergen, Norway)

  • Ståle Pallesen

    (Norwegian Competence Center for Sleep Disorders, 5021 Bergen, Norway
    Department of Psychosocial Science, University of Bergen, 5015 Bergen, Norway
    Optentia, The Vaal Triangle Campus of the North-West University, Vanderbijlpark 1900, South Africa)

  • Erik Zakariassen

    (Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, 5009 Bergen, Norway)

  • Anette Harris

    (Department of Psychosocial Science, University of Bergen, 5015 Bergen, Norway)

  • Pia Gatterbauer-Trischler

    (Department of Air Rescue College, Christophorus Flugrettungsverein, 1030 Vienna, Austria)

  • Siri Waage

    (Norwegian Competence Center for Sleep Disorders, 5021 Bergen, Norway
    Department of Psychosocial Science, University of Bergen, 5015 Bergen, Norway)

Abstract

The study examined sleep and sleepiness among shift working Helicopter Emergency Medical Service pilots from Norway (Norwegian Air Ambulance; NAA) and Austria (Christophorus Flugrettungverein; CFV). Both pilot groups (N = 47) worked seven consecutive 24 h shifts. Sleep was assessed by diaries and actigraphy while sleepiness was assessed by the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale, all administered throughout the workweek. The results indicated that all pilots had later bedtime ( p < 0.05) and wake-up time ( p < 0.01) as they approached the workweek end, but no change during the workweek was evident regarding wake after sleep onset, time in bed, total sleep time, or sleep efficiency. The NAA pilots had later bedtime ( p < 0.001) and wake-up time ( p < 0.001), spent more time awake after sleep onset ( p < 0.001), more time in bed ( p < 0.001), slept longer ( p < 0.01), and had lower sleep efficiency ( p < 0.001) compared with the CFV pilots. The sleepiness levels of all pilots were slightly elevated on the first workday but lower on the following workdays ( day 2 p < 0.001, day 3 p < 0.05). For both pilot groups, no major change in sleep or sleepiness parameters throughout the workweek was detected. The NAA pilots reported somewhat more disturbed sleep but obtained more sleep compared with the CFV pilots.

Suggested Citation

  • Tine Almenning Flaa & Bjørn Bjorvatn & Ståle Pallesen & Erik Zakariassen & Anette Harris & Pia Gatterbauer-Trischler & Siri Waage, 2022. "Sleep and Sleepiness Measured by Diaries and Actigraphy among Norwegian and Austrian Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) Pilots," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-17, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:7:p:4311-:d:786666
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    Cited by:

    1. Valeriia Demareva & Irina Zayceva & Valeriia Viakhireva & Marina Zhukova & Ekaterina Selezneva & Ekaterina Tikhomirova, 2023. "Home-Based Dynamics of Sleepiness-Related Conditions Starting at Biological Evening and Later (Beyond Working)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(17), pages 1-14, August.

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