Schoolteachers with voice handicap are twice as likely to report depressive symptoms.

This study aimed to examine the association between voice disorder and depressive symptoms in schoolteachers. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with elementary and secondary schoolteachers. Voice disorders and depressive symptoms were assessed with the Voice Handicap Index-10 and the Beck Depression Inventory-II, respectively. Logistic and linear regressions models were adjusted for confounding variables. In the 389 schoolteachers studied, the prevalence of voice handicap and depressive symptoms was 18.8 and 38.8%, respectively. Voice handicap was associated with depressive symptoms on all models tested. The logistic regression showed an odds ratio of 2.21 (95% confidence interval: 1.19, 4.08; p value < 0.05), while in the linear regression each point increase on the voice disorder scale increased the Beck Depression Inventory-II score by 0.39 points (95% confidence interval: 0.26, 0.54; p value < 0.05). This study showed that teachers of public schools with voice handicap are twice as likely to report depressive symptoms.

Job strain is prospectively associated with a lower frequency of fruit consumption in schoolteachers.

OBJECTIVE: The current study aimed to analyse the prospective association between perceived work demand and changes in eating behaviours in schoolteachers. DESIGN: This was a prospective cohort study with self-reported information obtained on the Demand Control Support Questionnaire and eating behaviours at baseline and after a 2-year follow-up. The analyses were performed using mixed-effects models adjusted for the main confounders. SETTING: The setting consisted of elementary and secondary schools located in a large city in southern Brazil. PARTICIPANTS: The participants were 502 schoolteachers (65·9 % females, median age of 42·7 years [interquartile range 34·2, 49·4]). RESULTS: A total of 39·2 % of the schoolteachers were classified at baseline with job strain, 28·9 % with passive job, 12·2 % with active job and 19·7 % with low-strain job. In the fully adjusted models, compared with teachers who reported low-strain job, those with higher levels of job strain were more likely to reduce (coefficient = 0·064; 95 % CI 0·018, 0·109) and less likely to increase (coefficient = -0·066; 95 % CI -0·115, -0·016) their frequency of fruit consumption regardless of sociodemographic, lifestyle, health conditions and social support at work. CONCLUSION: Job strain plays a relevant role in the frequency of fruit consumption over time in schoolteachers. The balance between demand and control at work must be considered in strategies for promoting healthy eating despite perceived social support.

The association of continuous-use medications and sleep parameters in a sample of working adults.

PURPOSE: Although polypharmacy is linked to health outcomes in the elderly, the use of multiple medications is increasing in middle-aged adults. This study analyzed whether or not the increased number of continuous-use medications (C-UM) is associated with objective and subjective sleep parameters in a working population. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with schoolteachers from public schools in Londrina, Brazil. The participants were classified according to the self-reported number of C-UM. Sleep data were obtained with actigraphy and a concomitant sleep diary for 7 days. The analyses were adjusted for socio-demographic, lifestyle, and morbidity variables. RESULTS: A total of 17% of the participants were classified as using ≥3C-UM. In fully adjusted analyses, the use of ≥3C-UM was associated with lower actigraphic sleep duration (<6 h) (odds ratio [OR] = 2.51; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.01,6.21), higher actigraphic sleep onset latency (SOL) (OR = 2.65; 95%CI = 1.00,7.02), and with a higher number of awakenings during sleep measured by actigraphy (OR = 3.30; 95%CI = 1.32,8.28). The use of ≥3 C-UM was also associated with higher SOL (OR = 3.76; 95%CI = 1.36,10.5) and lower sleep efficiency (OR = 11.6; 95%CI = 2.92,46.1), as measured with the sleep diary. A 1-unit increment in the number of continuous-use medications was associated with higher self-reported SOL and lower subjective sleep efficiency. CONCLUSION: The continuous use of ≥3 medications is associated with worse objective and subjective parameters of sleep duration and quality in schoolteachers.

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Newest Vital Sign (NVS) health literacy instrument in general population and highly educated samples of Brazilian adults.

OBJECTIVE: The present work aimed at cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the health literacy assessment tool Newest Vital Sign (NVS) in general population (GP) and highly educated (HE) samples of Brazilian adults. DESIGN: An expert committee reviewed the translation and back-translation processes and the cultural adaptation. The construct validity was analysed with confirmatory factor analysis and via associations with features of the study population. SETTING: The final validation test was performed in two different populations from Londrina, a large town in southern Brazil. SUBJECTS: Brazilian adults: GP (adult clients of community pharmacies; n 189) and HE (public school teachers; n 301). RESULTS: The tool under validation showed good cross-cultural adaptation and internal consistency, with Cronbach's α of 0·75 for GP and 0·74 for HE. Confirmatory factor analysis showed acceptable models and identified two independent factors according to the relationship between components and numeracy for both GP and HE data. According to the Brazilian Portuguese version of the NVS instrument (NVS-BR), 48·7 % of GP and 33·5 % of HE presented adequate health literacy; this condition was inversely associated with age for both populations and directly correlated with educational level for GP. CONCLUSIONS: The NVS-BR showed good validity in two different populations of Brazilian adults and can be considered an alternative in screening for inadequate health literacy.

Working conditions and illicit psychoactive substance use among truck drivers in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to identify the role that working conditions play in predicting the consumption of illicit psychoactive substances (IPS) among truck drivers. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted with truck drivers who transport grains to Paranaguá Port, PR, Brazil. The truck drivers were interviewed, and they completed a self-administered questionnaire regarding their sociodemographics, lifestyles, working conditions, and consumption of IPS over the past 30 days. The statistical analysis included logistic regression models progressively adjusted for sociodemographic and lifestyle variables. RESULTS: A total of 670 male drivers with a mean age of 41.9 (±11.1) years were assessed. The prevalence of IPS consumption over the past 30 days was 10.9% (n=73). The drugs used primarily consisted of amphetamines (n=61). After adjusting for working characteristics, sociodemographic and lifestyle variables, the following working conditions were associated with the consumption of IPS: driving mostly at night (OR=3.91; 95% CI 1.75 to 8.74), driving while tired (OR=2.26; 95% CI 1.31 to 3.89), and earning a higher monthly income (OR=2.08; 95% CI 1.16 to 3.72). Drivers who were 39 years old or younger (OR=2.11; 95% CI 1.05 to 4.25) and not living with a partner (OR=2.22; 95% CI 1.17 to 4.22) were also more likely to consume IPS. CONCLUSIONS: Driving mostly at night, being tired, and earning more increase the use of IPS among truck drivers, regardless of other working characteristics, sociodemographic, and lifestyle variables.

High blood pressure and sedentary behavior in adolescents are associated even after controlling for confounding factors.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine whether high blood pressure (HBP) is associated with sedentary behavior in young people even after controlling for potential confounders (gender, age, socioeconomic level, tobacco, alcohol, obesity and physical activity). METHODS: In this epidemiological study, 1231 adolescents were evaluated. Blood pressure was measured with an oscillometric device and waist circumference with an inextensible tape. Sedentary behavior (watching television, computer use and playing video games) and physical activity were assessed by a questionnaire. We used mean and standard deviation to describe the statistical analysis, and the association between HBP and sedentary behavior was assessed by the chi-squared test. Binary logistic regression was used to observe the magnitude of association and cluster analyses (sedentary behavior and abdominal obesity; sedentary behavior and physical inactivity). RESULTS: HBP was associated with sedentary behaviors [odds ratio (OR) = 2.21, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.41-3.96], even after controlling for various confounders (OR = 1.68, CI = 1.03-2.75). In cluster analysis the combination of sedentary behavior and elevated abdominal obesity contributed significantly to an increased likelihood of having HBP (OR = 13.51, CI 7.21-23.97). CONCLUSIONS: Sedentary behavior was associated with HBP, and excess fat in the abdominal region contributed to the modulation of this association.

Psychoactive substance use by truck drivers: a systematic review.

The aim of this study was to summarise the scientific evidence on the prevalence of psychoactive substance use and on the factors associated with their intake among truck drivers. A systematic review was performed in the databases PubMed, Scientific Electronic Library Online, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences, and Cochrane and 36 cross-sectional studies were identified with quantitative results about the use of psychoactive substances by truck drivers. Out of these, 28 were carried out in countries with large land areas and 23 obtained their information through self-reporting. The most frequently studied substances were alcohol (n=25), amphetamines (n=17), marijuana (n=16) and cocaine (n=13). The prevalence of the use of these substances greatly varied: alcohol (0.1-91.0%); amphetamines (0.2-82.5%), marijuana (0.2-29.9%), cocaine (0.1-8.3%). The frequency of substance use was lower in studies that investigated the presence of these substances in biological samples than in those based on self-reported use. In 12 studies that evaluated factors associated with the intake of psychoactive substances, the following stood out: younger age, higher income, longer trips, alcohol consumption, driving in the night shift, travelling interstate routes, long or short sleep, fewer hours of rest, little experience of the driver, connection with small and medium sized companies, income below levels determined by labour agreements, productivity-based earnings and prior involvement in accidents. The frequency of psychoactive substance use by truck drivers seems to be high, although that greatly varies according to the type of substance and the method of collecting the information. The use of these substances was mainly associated with indicators of poor working conditions.

Job satisfaction and absenteeism among Brazilian teachers.

Introduction: Teachers, especially those in primary education, face unfavorable working conditions, which lead to job dissatisfaction and affect their physical and mental health, thus contributing to absenteeism. Objectives: To verify the association between lower job satisfaction and absenteeism due to short and long term health problems in elementary and hight school teachers. Methods: This observational, analytical, individual, cross-sectional, retrospective cohort study included 899 elementary and high school teachers. Absenteeism was determined by self-reported absences in the last 12 months for health reasons, categorized as short term (1-7 days) or long term (≥8 days). Job satisfaction was measured by the Occupational Stress Indicator scale, categorized as lower satisfaction (≤25th percentile) or higher satisfaction (>25th percentile). Multinomial logistic regression was used, and the odds ratio was calculated as a measure of association. Results: The majority of the teachers were women (68.3%) and were permanently employed (69.1%); the mean age was 42 (SD, 10) years. Women, younger teachers, permanent employees, those reporting chronic pain or illness, and those reporting a moderate/poor level of physical or mental work capacity had a higher risk of absenteeism. Lower job dissatisfaction was associated with short-term and long-term absenteeism. Job satisfaction was only related to short-term absenteeism after the adjustments made. Conclusions: There was an association between absenteeism and lower job satisfaction, which indicates that measures to improve job satisfaction are necessary.

Introdução: Professores, especialmente os da educação básica, têm enfrentado inúmeras condições desfavoráveis de trabalho, o que gera insatisfação no trabalho, com prejuízo à sua saúde física e mental, contribuindo para o absenteísmo. Objetivos: Verificar a associação entre menor satisfação no trabalho e absenteísmo por problema de saúde de curto e longo prazos em professores do ensino fundamental e médio. Métodos: Estudo observacional, analítico, individual, transversal, retrospectivo de coorte com professores do ensino fundamental e médio (n = 899). O absenteísmo foi determinado pelo relato de falta nos últimos 12 meses por motivo de saúde, categorizado em curto prazo (1 a 7 dias) e longo prazo (8 dias ou mais). A satisfação no trabalho foi mensurada pela escala Occupational Stress Indicator, categorizada em menor satisfação (até o percentil 25) e maior satisfação (acima do percentil 25). Foi utilizada a regressão logística multinomial, com cálculo da odds ratio como medida de associação. Resultados: Dos professores avaliados, a maioria era do sexo feminino (68,3%), tinham média de idade de 42 ± 10 anos e apresentavam vínculo estatutário (69,1%). As chances de absenteísmo foram maiores entre os professores do sexo feminino, mais jovens, com vínculo estatutário, que referiram dor ou doença crônica e que relataram capacidade física ou mental para o trabalho moderada/baixa. Professores menos satisfeitos apresentaram maiores chances de absenteísmo de curto e de longo prazo. Após os ajustes realizados, a satisfação no trabalho associou-se apenas ao absenteísmo de curto prazo. Conclusões: Houve associação entre absenteísmo e menor satisfação no trabalho, tornando-se necessárias medidas para melhorar a satisfação no trabalho.

Lipids and all-cause mortality among older adults: a 12-year follow-up study.

This is a 12-year follow-up cohort study with 800 people (60-85 years old). The association between lipid disorders and mortality was analysed by Cox proportional hazard adjusted model. All-cause mortality was considered the dependent variable, and lipid disorders as independent variables: total cholesterol (TC) >200 and <170 mg/dl, HDL-c <35 and 40, LDL-c >100 and 130, and triglycerides (TG) >50. An initial analysis of all subjects was performed and a second was carried out after having excluded individuals with a body mass index (BMI) <20 kg/m² or mortality in ≤ 2 years. The mortality showed a positive association with low TC and a negative association with high TC and high LDL-c. After the exclusion of underweight and premature mortality, there was a positive association only with TC <170 mg/dl (HR = 1.36, CI95%: 1.02-1.82). The data did not show a higher risk with high levels of TC, LDL-c, and TG. However, they showed higher mortality among older adults with low TC.

Factors associated with road accidents among Brazilian motorcycle couriers.

The objective of the study was to identify factors associated with reports of road accidents, among motorcycle couriers in two medium-sized municipalities in southern Brazil. A self-administered questionnaire was answered by motorcycle couriers that had worked for at least 12 months in this profession. The outcomes analyzed were reports on accidents and serious accidents over the 12 months prior to the survey. Bivariate and multivariate analyses by means of logistic regression were carried out to investigate factors that were independently associated with the outcomes. Seven hundred and fifty motorcycle couriers, of mean age 29.5 years (standard deviation = 8.1 ), were included in the study. Young age (18 to 24 years compared to ≥ 25 years, odds ratio [OR] = 1.77) speeding (OR = 1.48), and use of cell phones while driving (OR = 1.43) were factors independently associated with reports of accidents. For serious accidents, there was an association with alternation of work shifts (OR = 1.91) and speeding (OR = 1.67). The characteristics associated with accidents-personal (young age), behavioral (use of cell phones while driving and speeding), and professional (speeding and alternation of work shifts)-reveal the need to adopt wide-ranging strategies to reduce these accidents, including better work conditions for these motorcyclists.

Free-time physical activity and pain perception: An analysis of daily records from Brazilian teachers.

The sensation of pain is frequent in teachers and its relationship with the practice of free-time physical activity still needs more scientific evidence. This study analyzed the association between free-time physical activity and pain symptoms experienced by teachers during the day and at bedtime. In this cross-sectional study, data were obtained through individual interviews and the fulfillment of an activity diary by teachers from a city located in southern Brazil. Statistical analysis was performed using logistic regression adjusted for sociodemographic, lifestyle and health variables. Among the 141 teachers included, pain perception was reported during the day by 66.7% and at bedtime by 66.0%. Analyses adjusted for sex, age, body mass index and time spent watching television indicated that practicing more than 240 minutes/week of free-time physical activity was associated with a lower likelihood of reported pain during the day (odds ratio, OR=0.18; 95% confidence interval, CI: 0.06-0.54) and at bedtime (OR=0.28; 95% CI: 0.10-0.79) compared to practicing ≤60 minutes/week of free-time physical activity. These associations lost statistical significance after the additional adjustment for depressive symptoms. In summary, this study showed that teachers who practiced more than 240 minutes/week of physical activity in free-time were less likely to report pain during the day and at bedtime. Depressive symptoms had an important confounding effect on this association. A multidisciplinary approach can optimize preventive strategies for pain prevention and management through health education programs in the workplace.

Chronic musculoskeletal pain and occupational aspects among Brazilian teachers.

Objectives. This study aimed to determine the association between working conditions and chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) in regions of the body in teachers. Methods. A cross-sectional study was performed with 958 teachers from Brazil. Outcomes were chronic pain in the upper limbs, lower back and lower limbs. Independent variables were characteristics and perceptions about the work. Poisson regression models were adjusted by socio-demographic, lifestyle and co-morbidity variables. Results. After adjustments, strong associations were observed between a negative perception regarding writing on the board and pain in the upper limbs (prevalence ratio [PR] = 4.65; 95% confidence interval [CI] [2.02, 10.70]) and lower back pain (PR = 2.10; 95% CI [1.06, 4.15]) and between a negative perception of standing duration and pain in the lower limbs (PR = 3.98; 95% CI [1.54, 10.26]). Additionally, the number of workplaces, number of students and conditions for carrying teaching material were associated with pain in the upper limbs. Time in the profession and a negative perception of work-life balance were associated with pain in the lower limbs. Conclusions. Different work conditions were associated with CMP in different body regions. Policies to improve teachers' working conditions, such as providing furniture that meets teachers' ergonomic needs, are needed to reduce CMP.

Increased Consumption of Ultra-Processed Food Is Associated with Poor Mental Health in a Nationally Representative Sample of Adolescent Students in Brazil.

The objective of this study was to analyze the association between ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption and mental health symptoms in a nationally representative sample of the Brazilian adolescent student population. Cross-sectional analyses with data from the National School-Based Health Survey (PeNSE 2019) were performed. Self-reported information was obtained for the frequency of five mental health symptoms in the last month and the consumption of thirteen UPFs in the last 24 h. Generalized linear models adjusting for the main confounders were performed for each sex. Of the 94,767 adolescent students (52.4% girls) included, 8.1% of the boys and 27.2% of the girls reported "almost always" or "always" having at least four of the five mental health symptoms. In the fully adjusted models, compared to the boys who consumed ≤3 UPF, those consuming ≥6 UPF reported more frequent symptoms of poor mental health (ß-coefficient = 0.27 [0.03, 0.51]; p-for-trend = 0.005). A similar association was observed in girls (ß-coefficient = 0.31 [0.13, 0.50]; p-for-trend = 0.001). In conclusion, in this large sample of adolescent students from an entire country, the higher the consumption of UPF was, the higher the frequency of reported symptoms of poor mental health. These findings remained significant regardless of sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, self-perceived body image, and bullying victimization.

Recurrence of Violence Against Teachers: Two-Year Follow-Up Study.

The objective of this study was to analyze whether the experience of violence by teachers in the school environment increases the risk of teachers suffering violence again within a 2-year period. This longitudinal study included 430 primary and secondary public school teachers from a city in the south of Brazil, with data collected at two time points: T1 (2012-2013) and T2 (2014-2015). The data were obtained via face-to-face interviews and the completion of a questionnaire. The forms of violence investigated included reports of insults from students, humiliation or embarrassment by colleagues or superiors, and threats and physical violence from any member of the school occurring in the 12 months prior to the study. McNemar's test and the Poisson regression with robust error variance were used in the analyses, and the relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were calculated. After 2 years, there was a reduction in violence reported by the teachers from 65.4% (T1) to 56.9% (T2) (p = .003). Teachers who suffered a certain form of violence had three times the risk of suffering that type of violence again. Those who reported three or four forms of violence at T1 had an RR of 2.23 of suffering any form of violence at T2 (95% CI [1.70, 2.93]) compared with those who did not report violence at T1. Psychological violence at T1 was not associated with physical violence at T2, nor was physical violence at T1 associated with psychological violence at T2. Despite the reduction in violence against teachers reported at T2, some forms of violence remained stable after 2 years. Suffering more forms of violence increases the risk of suffering any future violence.

Prospective association between burnout and road traffic accidents in teachers.

We investigated whether burnout (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and reduced professional efficacy) is a risk factor for traffic accidents. A prospective cohort study was conducted with 509 school teachers. The teachers were interviewed in 2012-2013, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory was applied. After 2 years, the teachers were interviewed again to determine the occurrence of traffic accidents. Poisson regression models with robust variance were used to adjust the analyses. Relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) were calculated to assess changes in c-units in the scores of each Burnout dimension, with c equal to 1, 5 and 10 units. The incidence rate of road traffic accidents at follow-up was 10.8%. After adjustments for sex, age, high workload/exposure to the traffic environment, daily consumption of alcoholic beverages and the other dimensions of burnout, depersonalization was a risk factor for traffic accidents. For each 1- and 10-point increase in the depersonalization score, the risk increased by 8 and 119%, respectively. Emotional exhaustion was not associated with these accidents. Increases in the professional efficacy score increased the risk of traffic accidents. The association of depersonalization with future road traffic accidents reinforces the need for measures to improve teachers' work conditions to reduce burnout.

Longitudinal associations of changes in physical activity and TV viewing with chronic musculoskeletal pain in Brazilian schoolteachers.

This study analyzed the longitudinal association of changes in leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) practice and television viewing (TV viewing) with chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP). The data about LTPA, TV viewing, and CMP were obtained in 2012 and after 24 months through individual interviews with schoolteachers from elementary and secondary education public schools in a large city in the southern region of Brazil. The statistical analysis was performed using generalized estimating equation regression models adjusted for sex, age, body mass index and depression. A total of 527 schoolteachers were studied, among which 66.6% were women, and the median age was 42 years (interquartile range: 34 to 49). A total of 170 (32.3%) participants reported CMP at baseline and 130 (24.7%) at follow-up. Both LTPA and TV viewing were independently and significantly associated with CMP regardless of all adjustment variables. Concretely, increasing LTPA by 60 minutes/week was associated with a 6.2% lower likelihood of CMP, and increasing TV viewing by 30 minutes/day was associated with a 5.1% higher likelihood of having CMP among the participants. In summary, this study showed that LTPA and TV viewing have independent and opposite relationships with the longitudinal risk of CMP, which suggests that the potential benefits obtained from practicing more LTPA are insufficient to compensate for the potential detrimental effect of viewing TV for longer with respect to the CMP.

Poor Relationships and Physical Violence at School Are Associated With More Forms of Psychological Violence Among Brazilian Teachers: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Our purpose was to identify individual and work-related factors that are associated with psychological violence (PV) and are related to a higher number of PV forms among teachers. This cross-sectional study included 789 elementary and high school teachers in a municipality in southern Brazil. Data were obtained through interviews and a self-administered questionnaire. PV was characterized by reports of insults from students, humiliation by colleagues or teachers, and threats in the 12 months preceding the study. Factors associated with the number of PV forms were also investigated. Poisson regression models were used for the analyses. More than half (64.1%) of the teachers reported at least one event of PV, 38.3% reported only one form, 21.5% reported two forms, and 4.3% reported all three surveyed forms. After adjustments, poor relationships with superiors or students and having suffered physical violence at school remained associated with at least one PV episode. The same variables were associated with the number of forms of PV, as were age (inverse relationship) and violence outside of school. The higher the number of aggregated factors, the more estimated forms of PV, particularly among the younger teachers. These results highlight the importance of adopting strategies that promote a nonviolent and safe school environment for teachers, which will in turn improve work conditions, the quality of education, and teachers' health.

Reading the Nutritional Information on Food Labels Among Teachers with and without Hypertension in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: To examine the associations among nutritional label use, medically diagnosed hypertension, and sociodemographic factors among teachers. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of elementary and secondary school teachers in Londrina, Paraná, Brazil, was conducted. Data regarding sociodemographic variables, hypertension diagnosis, and the reading of nutritional information on food/beverage labels were collected in 2012-2013. Associations were analyzed using Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test, and multivariate binary logistic regression models were used to adjust for possible confounders; odds ratios (ORs), 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and adjusted P values were calculated. RESULTS: Of the 978 teachers interviewed, 15% were diagnosed with hypertension, and 62.5% read nutritional information in the 12 months prior to the survey (41% frequently or always). No differences were found between teachers with and without hypertension with regard to frequent reading (frequently/always) of nutritional labels. The frequent use of nutritional labels was significantly associated with female sex (OR = 1.39; 95% CI = 1.04-1.85) and the highest monthly family income level (OR = 1.82; 95% CI = 1.07-3.11). Teachers with hypertension reported checking for sodium more frequently than those without (adjusted P value = 0.040). Medical advice (adjusted P value <0.001) and choosing healthier foods (adjusted P value = 0.002) were the major reasons for reading labels provided by teachers with and without hypertension, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Checking for sodium values on nutritional labels was significantly higher among teachers with hypertension, which most likely results from medical advice, and was the major reported reason for reading these labels.

Working conditions and sleepiness while driving among truck drivers.

Objective: The objective of this study is to identify the role of working conditions as predictors of sleepiness while driving among truck drivers. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out among truck drivers who transported grains to Paranaguá Port, Paraná, Brazil. The truck drivers were interviewed and completed a self-administered questionnaire to collect data on sociodemographic and behavioral variables, working conditions, consumption of illicit psychoactive substances, and sleep patterns. Drivers were considered to be sleepy while driving if they reported a medium or high probability of napping while driving at night, during the daytime, or while stopped in traffic. The statistical analysis used logistic regression models progressively adjusted for age, behavioral variables, sleep duration, and other working conditions. Results: In total, 670 male drivers, with a mean age of 41.9 (±11.1) years, were enrolled. The prevalence of sleepiness while driving was 31.5%. After model adjustments, the following working conditions were associated with sleepiness while driving: Distance from the last shipment of more than 1,000 km (odds ratio [OR] = 1.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07-2.23) and a formal labor contract with a productivity-based salary (OR = 2.65; 95% CI, 1.86-3.78). Consumption of illicit psychoactive substances (OR = 1.99; 95% CI, 1.14-3.47) was also associated with sleepiness while driving. Conclusions: Distance traveled and a formal labor contract with productivity-based earnings were the working conditions associated with sleepiness while driving, regardless of other working or behavioral characteristics, age, consumption of illicit psychoactive substances, and sleep duration.

Watching television for more than two hours increases the likelihood of reporting poor sleep quality among Brazilian schoolteachers.

Although time spent watching television and sleep problems have increased in the last few decades, it is unclear whether these conditions are associated in working adults after controlling for lifestyle, job characteristics and other individual aspects. The present study analyzed the association between time spent watching television and sleep quality among teachers from public schools in Londrina, Brazil. In this cross-sectional study, information from the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and about time spent watching television was obtained during personal interviews. Logistic regression models adjusted by the main confounders (sociodemographic, occupational and lifestyle variables) were used in the analyses. Among the 959 studied teachers (68.2% women, median age: 42years), teachers who watched >120min/day had a higher likelihood of reporting poor sleep quality (PSQI>5) (odds ratio=1.41; 95% confidence interval=1.01; 1.98) compared with those who watched television for up to 60min/day, regardless of gender, age, work hours, leisure time physical activity and other lifestyle variables. This association did not remain significant after the adjustment for health conditions, i.e., obesity, anxiety, depression and chronic pain, which may act as confounding variables in the relationship between watching television and poor sleep quality. Watching television for >120min/day was independently associated with poorer sleep quality, which should be considered in the prevention and treatment of sleep disturbances among working population.