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Learning Objective 1: The learner will be able to discuss health risk factors for men who are professional truck drivers.
Learning Objective 2: The learner will be able to identify health promotion lifestyle changes that truck drivers can do while at work to decrease their health risks.
Purpose: to determine health risks and health promoting behaviors of men who are professional truck drivers. This population is at high risk for cardiovascular disease, hypertension, sexually transmitted diseases, obesity, stress, sleep deprivation, and tobacco, alcohol, drug use.
AIMS: Identify health risks of short and long haul male truck drivers using the Self Care Inventory (SCI). Identify health-promoting behaviors using the Health Promoting Lifestyle (HPLPII) and demographic questions.
Methods: A descriptive correlational design was used. Survey methods including the SCI and HPLPII, standardized demographic instruments, measurements of height, weight, blood pressure, pulse, and calculated BMI. Data was collected at New Mexico State University (NMSU) and at truck stops along the I-10 and I-25 corridor of Texas and New Mexico. Institutional Review Board approval was acquired from NMSU and the University of Texas at Austin.
Findings: 127 drivers participated; ranging in age from 20-71. Based on Diastolic BP 93 drivers readings fell in the Pre-Hypertension, Stage I or Stage II Hypertension and based on both systolic and diastolic readings combined 9 drivers’ BP fell in normal range and 116 drivers were in the Pre-hypertension, Stage I or Stage II categories. Calculation of BMI revealed that 1 driver was underweight, 15 drivers had healthy weights and that 109 drivers weights were Class I, II, III, and overweight categories. Weight was positively correlated with Diastolic BP (p = 0.0036) and the greater the weight the greater the Systolic BP (p = 0.0003).
Conclusions: Risk factors for health problems included poor diet and lack of exercise. Levels of hypertension are greater than in prior reports of truck driver health risks. Drivers identified ways they are incorporating exercise into their daily routines which can be used in health promotion educational materials.