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Validation of a questionnaire to screen for shift work disorder
Laura K Barger1, Rowan P Ogeil, Christopher L Drake
1Division of Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA. lkbarger@hms.harvard.edu
Sleep
|December 4, 2012
Summary
A new 4-item questionnaire effectively screens for Shift Work Disorder (SWD), a sleep issue affecting many shift workers. This tool aids primary care physicians in identifying individuals at high risk for SWD.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Sleep Medicine
- Psychometrics
Background:
- Shift work affects 15% of the workforce, disrupting circadian rhythms and leading to health/safety issues.
- Shift Work Disorder (SWD) is underdiagnosed by primary care physicians despite causing insomnia and daytime sleepiness.
- Developing a reliable screening tool for SWD is crucial for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a questionnaire for screening shift workers at high risk of SWD.
- To create a concise and effective tool for primary care settings.
Main Methods:
- 311 shift workers completed a 26-item questionnaire.
- Physician diagnosis of SWD was based on ICSD-2 criteria.
- Discriminant function analyses identified the most predictive items for SWD.
Main Results:
- A 4-item questionnaire demonstrated 89% positive predictive value and 62% negative predictive value.
- The final questionnaire achieved 74% sensitivity and 82% specificity for SWD.
- Cross-validation confirmed the questionnaire's predictive accuracy.
Conclusions:
- The developed Shiftwork Disorder Screening Questionnaire is suitable for primary care settings.
- This tool can assist physicians in diagnosing SWD among shift workers.
- Improved SWD screening can lead to better management of sleep-related issues in this population.
