Medical screening |
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Background
The problem: Sleep disorders in professional drivers
Daytime sleepiness and impaired performance are very common in persons suffering from
sleep disorders. The importance of sleep disorders for safety is generally underestimated. Some
professional groups have, when suffering from sleep disorders, a particular high
risk of being involved in a fatigue-related accident, e.g. drivers or conductors
of machines.
One possible solution: Regular medical screening
One approach of prevention is to screen high risk groups regularly. Employees fill in a questionnaire
about sleep quality, quantity and daytime sleepiness. If the data analysis
points to a sleep disorder, the employee will be examined further using medical sleep diagnostics
(e.g. electroencephalography).
Privacy and acceptance of screening procedures
Screening studies should be carried out and data should be analysed by independent institutes to assure privacy.
By using modern medical techniques (telematics) additional investigations can be conducted at home. This
improves the acceptance of screening programmes and reduces costs. Screening
studies in high risk groups are an important part in a
responsible health management.
Activities
Present medical screening procedures have to be improved continuously. Moreover, new screening procedures are being developed. Thereby, it has to be kept in mind that appropriate methods should be simple to use and not expensive.
Members of the working group
Speaker: Dr. Margot Lakemeyer, Technical University of Aachen
BAD-GmbH, Health Precaution and Security Technique, Dr. Michaela Schlicker
Bergmannsheil University-Hospital, PD Dr. Sylvia Kotterba
Ford-Werke GmbH Cologne
German Aerospace Centre (DLR), Dr. Alexander Gundel
University of Cologne, Prof. Dr. Niels Galley
University of Würzburg, Prof. Dr. Hans-Peter Krüger
For more information on the institutions see Members
