Bayside Medical Centre, Penetanguishene (Dr Johnson); Centre for Studies in Family Medicine, Department of Family Medicine (Dr Vingilis, Dr Terry); Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics (Dr Vingilis, Dr Terry); Schulich Interfaculty Program in Public Health (Dr Terry), Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
J Occup Environ Med. 2021 Mar 1;63(3):230-237. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002107.
Long-haul truck drivers suffer increased health risk, but how they use healthcare is unknown. The objectives of this study were to explore the health experiences of these drivers, their healthcare experiences, and their relationship with their main medical provider.
In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 Canadian long-haul truck drivers. The majority (85%) were men and recruited at a truck stop on a major transport corridor between Canada and the United States.
Through phenomenological analysis of the transcribed interviews, themes of perseverance, isolation, dehumanization, and working in a hidden world emerged as major influences on the health experiences of these drivers. Barriers to their medical provider were also revealed.
Continuous exposure to a stressful work environment and inadequate access to primary care likely negatively affect the health of long-haul truck drivers. Given the experiences of this small group of drivers, improved healthcare and health resource availability might mitigate the risk of this occupational group.
长途卡车司机面临更高的健康风险,但他们如何使用医疗保健服务尚不清楚。本研究旨在探讨这些司机的健康体验、医疗保健体验以及与主要医疗服务提供者的关系。
对 13 名加拿大长途卡车司机进行了深入的半结构化访谈。这些司机大多数(85%)为男性,是在加拿大和美国之间的主要交通走廊上的一个卡车停靠站招募的。
通过对转录访谈的现象学分析,出现了坚持、孤立、非人化和在隐蔽世界中工作等主题,这些主题对这些司机的健康体验产生了重大影响。同时也揭示了他们与医疗服务提供者之间的障碍。
持续暴露在充满压力的工作环境中,以及获得初级保健服务的机会不足,可能会对长途卡车司机的健康产生负面影响。鉴于这一小部分司机的经历,改善医疗保健和健康资源的可及性可能会降低该职业群体的风险。