Abstract
The conditions of work for professional drivers can contribute to adverse health and well-being outcomes. Fatigue can result from irregular shift scheduling, stress may arise due to the intense job demands, back pain may be due to prolonged sitting and exposure to vibration, and a poor diet can be attributed to limited time for breaks and rest. This study aimed to identify working conditions and health outcomes in a bussing company by conducting focus groups and key informant interviews to inform a Total Worker Health® organizational intervention. Our thematic analysis identified three primary themes: lack of trust between drivers and supervisors, the scheduling of shifts and routes, and difficulty performing positive health behaviors. These findings demonstrate the value of using participatory methods with key stakeholders to determine the unique working conditions and pathways that may be most critical to impacting safety, health, and well-being in an organization.
Highlights
Professional drivers, including bus, taxi, and long-haul truck drivers, experience higher rates of health issues compared to other occupations [1]
The purpose of this study was to (a) identify how working conditions influenced bus drivers’ safety, health, and well-being using qualitative methods and (b) develop a unique organization-centered conceptual model of theorized pathways for this organization through which working conditions influence workers’ safety, health, and well-being behaviors, and identify outcomes to be used in a future TWH intervention
The analysis of the key informant interviews and focus groups resulted in overarching themes related to (a) working conditions—work relationships, and organization of work and (b) health and well-being outcomes
Summary
Professional drivers, including bus, taxi, and long-haul truck drivers, experience higher rates of health issues compared to other occupations [1]. They suffer from acute and chronic health conditions at higher rates than the general working population, including increased risk of cardiovascular disease [2,3,4], obesity [5,6], and musculoskeletal disorders [1,7,8,9,10], and are more stressed [11,12]. Irregular working schedules of professional drivers often impact their mental health, resulting in depression or anxiety [11,12]
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