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Sleep Deprivation and Injuries in Part-Time Kentucky Farmers: Impact of Self Reported Sleep Habits and Sleep Problems on Injury Risk
AAOHN Journal (2004)
  • Susan E. Spengler, University of Kentucky
  • Steven R. Browning, University of Kentucky
  • Deborah B. Reed, University of Kentucky
Abstract
Part-time farmers who hold off-farm jobs may be at risk for injuries because of impaired performance resulting from inadequate sleep. For this study, 1004 part-time male Kentucky farmers completed a telephone interview for the 1994 to 1995 National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health-funded Farm Family Health and Hazard Surveillance Project. Questions were included about demographics, sleep habits, and injury occurrence. Twelve percent of the farmers reported an injury requiring medical intervention in the previous year. Farmers reported sleeping an average of 7.6 hours daily. Approximately 6.7% of the sample had three symptoms of sleep apnea. Although hours of sleep were not related to injury incidence, sleep medication use (odds ratio [OR] = 2.11, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.01 to 4.40) and presence of three sleep apnea symptoms (OR = 2.48, 95% CI = 1.13 to 5.41) were related to injury incidence. These data support the need for further research to examine sleep habits and promote strategies that reduce the risk for injuries caused by lack of sleep.
Keywords
  • Sleep deprivation,
  • Kentucky,
  • Agriculture,
  • Sleep apnea,
  • Farmers
Disciplines
Publication Date
September, 2004
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/216507990405200905
Citation Information
Susan E. Spengler, Steven R. Browning and Deborah B. Reed. "Sleep Deprivation and Injuries in Part-Time Kentucky Farmers: Impact of Self Reported Sleep Habits and Sleep Problems on Injury Risk" AAOHN Journal Vol. 52 Iss. 9 (2004) p. 373 - 382
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/steven_browning/16/