Sleep Disorders Management, Health and Safety in Police
| Status: | Completed |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Insomnia Sleep Studies, Restless Leg Syndrome, Pulmonary |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Psychiatry / Psychology, Pulmonary / Respiratory Diseases, Rheumatology |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - Any |
| Updated: | 4/21/2016 |
| Start Date: | May 2005 |
| End Date: | September 2010 |
The purpose of the study is to test the effect of a sleep disorders detection and treatment
program for police officers on their safety, quality of life, and job performance. The
program is called Operation Healthy Sleep. We will develop and test a sleep health detection
and treatment program that we aim to apply nationwide to reduce police officer fatigue and
stress; enhance the ability of officers and their families to cope with police work; improve
the health, safety and performance of law enforcement officers; and thereby improve public
safety. Part of this program will include a questionnaire asking about about work hours and
health related issues. We will then look at how these survey data relate with data on police
officer safety and job performance that we are collecting through police department's
databases.
Sleep disorders are common and treatable, but often remain undiagnosed and untreated. Police
officers work some of the most demanding schedules known, which increases their risk of
sleep disorders. The public expects officers to perform flawlessly, but unrecognized sleep
disorders lead to severe disruption of sleep, which significantly reduces an individual's
ability to think clearly and perform well. In addition, sleep loss and sleep disruption
affect personal health, increasing the risk of gastrointestinal and cardiovascular. We also
know that sleep loss increases the risk of injury due to motor vehicle crashes.
The goals of Operation Healthy Sleep are to improve officers' health, safety, and
performance by reducing the impact of fatigue.
The study will take place over two years. In the first year, half of the police officers
will take part in Operation Healthy Sleep, and in the second year, the second half will
participate. We will carefully select the year 1 and year 2 groups so that the data
collected across the two years can be validly compared.
program for police officers on their safety, quality of life, and job performance. The
program is called Operation Healthy Sleep. We will develop and test a sleep health detection
and treatment program that we aim to apply nationwide to reduce police officer fatigue and
stress; enhance the ability of officers and their families to cope with police work; improve
the health, safety and performance of law enforcement officers; and thereby improve public
safety. Part of this program will include a questionnaire asking about about work hours and
health related issues. We will then look at how these survey data relate with data on police
officer safety and job performance that we are collecting through police department's
databases.
Sleep disorders are common and treatable, but often remain undiagnosed and untreated. Police
officers work some of the most demanding schedules known, which increases their risk of
sleep disorders. The public expects officers to perform flawlessly, but unrecognized sleep
disorders lead to severe disruption of sleep, which significantly reduces an individual's
ability to think clearly and perform well. In addition, sleep loss and sleep disruption
affect personal health, increasing the risk of gastrointestinal and cardiovascular. We also
know that sleep loss increases the risk of injury due to motor vehicle crashes.
The goals of Operation Healthy Sleep are to improve officers' health, safety, and
performance by reducing the impact of fatigue.
The study will take place over two years. In the first year, half of the police officers
will take part in Operation Healthy Sleep, and in the second year, the second half will
participate. We will carefully select the year 1 and year 2 groups so that the data
collected across the two years can be validly compared.
Information Session and Surveys We will visit police stations and present an information
session about Operation Healthy Sleep. The session will take place during work time. During
this session, we will also provide a short education session aimed to help officers to
improve their sleep habits and alertness. During the session, we will invite officers to
take part in Operation Healthy Sleep.
If the officer agrees to take part, he/she will be asked to provide informed consent, and
then complete a survey. The survey is comprehensive and includes questions regarding work
schedules, past medical history, health habits, accidents, quality of life, and mood. The
survey will also include a screening test to see if they might have a sleeping disorder. The
total time commitment involved in attending the information/education session and completing
the survey will be about 1 to 2 hours.
Officers will be asked to provide email address and other contact information. Officers will
then receive information on how to link to our monthly web-based nationwide survey. The
brief monthly surveys include questions regarding work schedules, accidents and injuries,
health, quality of life, and mood. The survey should take about 10-15 minutes to complete
each month.
Finally, a version of the survey will be completed at the end of each year until the study
is completed (i.e. at most, two years). These yearly surveys will be completed during
regular work time.
During the study, we will be tracking work hours, accidents, and job performance of all
officers using the police department's computerized and paper records. Data collected
through this system may be compared with other data we collect from officers directly.
Protection of officers' confidentiality will be our highest priority.
Assessment and Treatment of Sleep Disorders After the initial information/education session
is completed, we will review responses to the survey to check whether officers are at risk
of having a sleep disorder. If officers are found to be at risk, we will contact them and
recommend that they undergo assessment and, if necessary, treatment by a physician or sleep
specialist. We will provide the officer with referrals to local sleep disorders testing and
treatment centers and physicians. Officers are free to choose another sleep disorders
specialist or another physician if they prefer.
session about Operation Healthy Sleep. The session will take place during work time. During
this session, we will also provide a short education session aimed to help officers to
improve their sleep habits and alertness. During the session, we will invite officers to
take part in Operation Healthy Sleep.
If the officer agrees to take part, he/she will be asked to provide informed consent, and
then complete a survey. The survey is comprehensive and includes questions regarding work
schedules, past medical history, health habits, accidents, quality of life, and mood. The
survey will also include a screening test to see if they might have a sleeping disorder. The
total time commitment involved in attending the information/education session and completing
the survey will be about 1 to 2 hours.
Officers will be asked to provide email address and other contact information. Officers will
then receive information on how to link to our monthly web-based nationwide survey. The
brief monthly surveys include questions regarding work schedules, accidents and injuries,
health, quality of life, and mood. The survey should take about 10-15 minutes to complete
each month.
Finally, a version of the survey will be completed at the end of each year until the study
is completed (i.e. at most, two years). These yearly surveys will be completed during
regular work time.
During the study, we will be tracking work hours, accidents, and job performance of all
officers using the police department's computerized and paper records. Data collected
through this system may be compared with other data we collect from officers directly.
Protection of officers' confidentiality will be our highest priority.
Assessment and Treatment of Sleep Disorders After the initial information/education session
is completed, we will review responses to the survey to check whether officers are at risk
of having a sleep disorder. If officers are found to be at risk, we will contact them and
recommend that they undergo assessment and, if necessary, treatment by a physician or sleep
specialist. We will provide the officer with referrals to local sleep disorders testing and
treatment centers and physicians. Officers are free to choose another sleep disorders
specialist or another physician if they prefer.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Active sworn police officers
Exclusion Criteria:
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