The investigation of the effect of musculoskeletal complaints, fatigue, and sleep quality on reaction time in long-haul truck drivers

ABSTRACT THE INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECT OF MUSCULOSKELETAL COMPLAINTS, FATIGUE, AND SLEEP QUALITY ON REACTION TIME IN LONG-HAUL TRUCK DRIVERS This study, which examined the relationship between musculoskeletal complaints, fatigue, sleep quality, and reaction time among long-haul truck drivers, was conducted in Gaziantep with 161 male drivers whose mean age was 39.65 ± 10.61 years. After collecting the sociodemographic data of the volunteer participants, the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) was used to assess musculoskeletal complaints; the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) were used to evaluate sleep quality; the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) was used to assess fatigue; and the Deary-Liewald Reaction Time Test (Simple and Choice Reaction Time) together with the Nelson Foot Reaction Test were used to evaluate reaction time. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 22. According to the findings, 62.1% of the participants reported driving for 9–12 hours per day, and the most common musculoskeletal complaints were observed in the neck (42.2%), lower back (31.1%), and upper back (26.1%) regions. Participants demonstrated moderate levels of insomnia (mean ISI: 12.50), poor sleep quality (mean PSQI: 12.63), and moderate fatigue (mean FSS: 3.30). Correlation analyses revealed weak but statistically significant negative relationships (p<0.05) between musculoskeletal complaints in the neck, shoulder, back, wrist–hand, and lower back regions (according to NMQ) and PSQI, FSS, and both Deary-Liewald and Nelson Foot Reaction Time scores. Additionally, a significant positive correlation (p<0.01) was found between the Deary-Liewald and Nelson Foot Reaction Time tests, indicating consistency between the two measurements. Strong positive correlations (p<0.01) were also observed between PSQI and FSS scores. Overall, the results indicated significant associations between musculoskeletal complaints, sleep quality, fatigue, and reaction time among long-haul truck drivers. Specifically, increases in musculoskeletal complaints were associated with decreased sleep quality, increased fatigue levels, and variations in reaction time. Keywords: Truck driver; Long distance driver Musculoskeletal complaints; Fatigue; Sleep quality; Reaction time.