Insufficient Sleep and Fitness to Drive in Shift Workers: A Systematic Literature Review

Background: Insufficient sleep, <6.5 h per night, majorly affects shift workers, placing them at higher risk for motor vehicle crash related injury or fatality. While systematic reviews (SLRs) examine the effects of insufficient sleep and driving, to date, no SLR focuses on driver fitness or performance in shift workers.

Objectives: Determine the class of evidence (Class I-highest to Class IV-lowest), and level of confidence (Level A-high, to Level U-insufficient) in the determinants of driver fitness and performance in shift workers. Next, consider evidence-based recommendations for clinical practice, research, and policy.

Methods: A protocol was registered on PROSPERO (#CRD42018052905) using an established SLR methodology: a comprehensive electronic database search, study selection, data extraction, critical appraisal, analysis, and interpretation using published guidelines.

Results: Searches identified 1226 unique records with 11(2 on-road, 9 simulator) meeting final inclusion criteria. Class III to IV evidence identified that exposure to overnight shift work possibly predicts (Level C confidence) drivers at risk for adverse on-road outcomes and likely predicts (Level B) drivers at risk for adverse driving simulator outcomes. Higher ratings of subjective sleepiness and extended time driving possibly predict (Level C) drivers at risk for adverse driving simulator outcomes.

Conclusions: This study demonstrates a low to moderate level of confidence in the determinants of driving in shift workers. A critical need exists for gold-standard on-road assessments integrating complex driving environments representative of real-world demands, targeting tactical and strategic outcomes in a broad spectrum of shift workers.