Although taxi drivers have a high risk of sleep problems, including the disorder Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Syndrome (OSAS), many are reluctant to seek treatment, according to health researcher Dr Ridvan Firestone.

OSAS is a sleep disorder characterised by repetitive pauses of breathing resulting in lack of oxygen to the brain.

It causes daytime sleepiness and raises the risk of road accidents. Often the condition will go undiagnosed and untreated for years.

Dr Firestone, from the Centre for Public Health Research in Wellington, surveyed 241 Wellington taxi drivers and conducted focus groups.

Her research shows that a high proportion of taxi drivers in the study had a moderate to high risk of OSAS. Pacific drivers had a significantly higher risk compared to drivers from other ethnic groups.

One in six drivers reported excessive daytime sleepiness – one of the main risk factors for OSAS.

Factors such as age, neck size, snoring and observed apnoeas were the main predictors of OSAS among taxi drivers. Increasing neck size, excessive daytime sleepiness, snoring and observed apnoeas were prevalent among middle-aged and older taxi drivers, which suggests OSAS may be common among taxi drivers. This is consistent with findings from previous research,

She found that there were several reasons why taxi drivers were deterred from seeking treatment.

These included confusion about whether the driver or the taxi company was responsible for health and safety, medical costs, fear of discovering other health conditions, and the drivers’ limited knowledge of OSAS.

“These barriers are a major cause for concern. They are used to support the belief that earning a living is more important than personal health and safety,” says Dr Firestone.

“My key finding is that improving drivers’ knowledge about OSAS is unlikely to change their behaviour, without concurrent measures to address systemic issues in the taxi industry and the health care system.”

Dr Firestone says international studies show that if sleep problems are treated, accident rates among drivers return to average.

Dr Firestone received her PhD at the graduation ceremony in Wellington last month. She conducted the research while at the Sleep/Wake Research Centre.

“My parents have been taxi drivers for years, so I’ve always been interested in exploring the health effects of shift work,” she says.