Implications/Conclusions• Stress, Workplace and Communication, Lifestyle and Family

Commitments, and Fatigue and Sleep were the major themes identified

• Both managers and drivers identify a need for health promotion actions targeted at multiple levels: the Government/regulatory policy level; the Corporate/workplace policy level; the Community level exploring environmental supports aimed at both the customer and company, and the Individual level aimed at tailored prevention interventions

• Transport truck drivers in Southern Ontario are an aging population

• Identified themes informed a pilot health and wellness survey distributed to 13 Southern Ontario trucking companies; results submitted for publication

• Knowledge translation initiatives include formation of a Design Team of stakeholders, a website www.transporthealth.ca and development of an evidence based nutrition fact sheet for truck drivers

• Ongoing collaborative work to develop interventions for workplace health

Health Needs of Transport Truck Drivers: Development of a Health Survey through Qualitative Interviews

Beatrice McDonough2 BSN MScN MSc PhD(c); Michelle Howard1 MSc PhD; Ricardo Angeles1 MD MPH MHPEd PhD(c ); Francine Marzanek1 BSc BEd; Lisa Dolovich1 BScPhm PharmD MSc; Christine Senson2 MSc; Allan Kopyto3 MD MSc MSc(A); Karin Swift4 BPoliSciM, John Riva, BA, DC1Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University; 2City of Hamilton Public Health Services; 3Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers Inc.; 4Canadian Diabetes Association

“We simply cannot afford not to invest in prevention”• More than two-thirds of all deaths in Canada result from

chronic diseases – cardiovascular, cancer, type 2 diabetes and respiratory.

• Chronic diseases cost the Canadian economy more than $80 billion annually.

“We simply cannot afford not to provide workplace wellness”• The average direct cost of employee absenteeism in

Canada: $3,550 per employee per year.• Employees with 3 or more risk factors (e.g. physically

inactive, smoke, high alcohol consumption, overweight) are more likely to have 50% more work absences compared to employees who do not have risk factors.

“Trucking industry in Canada needs our attention”• The trucking industry plays a major role in the Canadian

economy.• The second most prevalent occupation for men in Canada

(2006 Census Data).• Occupation with highest lost time injury in Ontario

(WSIB 2006).• Drivers have higher than average health risks and poorer

than average lifestyle behaviours, in large part due to the working environment.

• Some health issues (e.g. BP, stroke) can limit driver’s ability to work.

• No Canadian data on prevalence of risks to inform programs and strategies

Context

• To deepen our understanding of the meaning of health and perceptions of associated preventable chronic disease risk factors among transport truck drivers in Southern Ontario, Canada in order to:

• 1) Design and pilot a Canadian health and wellness survey that would provide estimates of health issues in this population, and

• 2) Inform future tailored health interventions, including occupational health strategies.

Research Objectives

Design: Qualitative study using focus groups and interview

Participants: • Two transport truck champion companies partnered with

the research team.

Recruitment: • Invitations distributed to drivers by Occupational Health and

Safety of the two champion companies• 16 drivers and 10 managers: 3 focus groups and 1 key

informant interview (N=26). Data Collection: • Semi-structured interview guide developed from a literature

review to identify domains supplemented by information from the research team and the trucking company partners.

• Interviews audio recorded and transcribed verbatim.

Data Analysis:• Research team reviewed transcripts to identify coding

themes and through consensus developed a coding template

• Two independent researchers then coded the transcripts and reviewed with larger team

• Drivers had a mean age >50 yrs and >20 yrs experienceMain Themes:1. Stress related to day to day working conditions and

finances, was the number one theme identified more frequently by drivers than managers

2. Workplace and Communication was the second priority area identified by both managers and drivers related to relationships with customers, government and employers

3. Lifestyle and family issues resulted from #1 and #2 identified equally by both management and drivers. Family commitment, however, was not on the radar of management

4. Fatigue and Sleep was the last issue consistently identified by both drivers and management

.

Methods

Funded by CIHR Catalyst Grant

Stress•Traffic and Route•Trucker interaction with industry/government/public•Finances

Workplace and Communication

•Training and Regulations•Relationships with Customer•Relationships with Employer•Infrastructure and Environment

Lifestyle and Family Dynamic

•Nutrition•Physical activity•Culture among drivers•Family commitment•Primary health care conditions

Fatigue & Sleep •Work hours, Scheduling•Sleep policy, Regulations•Alertness, Boredom

Figure 1: Qualitative Themes

““I used to go up there 7 o’clock Saturday morning now this guy he’s frying eggs, he’s frying bacon and everything in there. He’s not thinking about going out to the crane the crane is parked. So what do I do? I go and sit in my truck for 3 hours till somebody has their breakfast then has their coffee, has a little nap now they go out and unload it.”

“if they’re allowed in the building they have to stay in a caged area. They’re allowed on the dock they have to stay in a confined space for safety reasons. Are they allowed to walk around the yard? Probably not.. they are confined.”

Driver

Manager

Results