By Laura French
PITTSBURGH — A study on EMS sleep health and fatigue, backed by the National Association of State EMS Officials and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, is seeking participation from EMS agencies.
The research study, led by Daniel Patterson, Ph.D., NRP, of the University of Pittsburgh Department of Emergency Medicine, seeks to examine the impact of a sleep health and fatigue education and training program tailored to EMS providers, according to a study flyer.
Study participants will complete the program online and provide feedback over a 24-week period. Some participants will also be asked to wear a wrist actigraph to measure sleep and complete a reaction time test at the start and end of a few scheduled work shifts during the study period.
The research team is seeking to recruit EMS agencies in the United States that provide ground-based EMS services 24 hours a day, employ 50 to 300 paid full-time and part-time EMS clinicians/personnel and allow EMS personnel to use their personal mobile phones during shifts. Agencies that provide both ground and air ambulance services or both fire and EMS services are also encouraged to participate.
Individuals who take part in the study will each receive an remuneration of about $35 in the form of $5 gift cards provided at both the beginning of the study and for each month the individual is involved in the study.
More information about the study can be found on the University of Pittsburgh website.