Sorensen Julie A, Jenkins Paul, Gertz Kimberly, Roome Amanda, Weil Rebecca, Graham Judith, Quinn Brian, Kincl Laurel, Dzugan Jerry, McCue-Weil Leigh
Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety: Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing, Cooperstown, NY, USA.
Bassett Healthcare Network, the Bassett Research Institute, Cooperstown, NY, USA.
J Agromedicine. 2025 Apr;30(2):286-296. doi: 10.1080/1059924X.2025.2451625. Epub 2025 Jan 10.
Commercial fishing is one of the most dangerous industries in the United States, and although injuries have been a prominent focus for research, some health and safety risk factors such as sleep are understudied. In this paper, data from a multi-modal research study of sleep patterns, lifestyle factors, occupational exposures, medical histories, and health assessments in four U.S. fisheries are used to explore the connections between pain and sleep.
A mixture of randomized cluster sampling, study promotions, and dockside recruitment was utilized to gather a sufficient number of fishermen in the Alaska Salmon, Oregon Dungeness Crab, Massachusetts Scallop, and Massachusetts Lobster fisheries for the study. Fishermen were surveyed about sleep patterns, occupational exposures, and lifestyle factors. Surveyed fishermen were provided with free comprehensive health assessments by occupational health nurses and physicians or Advanced Practice Providers. Data were collected in REDCap and downloaded into SAS for analysis using a variety of analytic methods.
A total of 262 surveys and 162 physical examinations were completed with captains and crew members in the four fisheries targeted for study. The average self-reported consecutive hours of sleep for fisheries workers that spend several days at sea (i.e. Crab, Scallop, and Salmon fisheries) were roughly 3.5 to 4.0 h in a 24-h period. Of particular note, the majority of fishermen, regardless of fishery, suffered from back pain, and roughly 40% of fishermen noted pain and discomfort significantly impede their ability to sleep.
This study underscores the connections between musculoskeletal pain and sleep, providing yet further impetus for preventing musculoskeletal injuries among fishermen. Given the ties between existing sleep debt in the industry and the health and safety risks posed by repeated exposure to insufficient sleep, this study highlights the need for the prevention of these injuries and potentially better treatment options for fishermen who suffer from musculoskeletal disorders.
商业捕鱼是美国最危险的行业之一，尽管伤害一直是研究的重点，但一些健康和安全风险因素，如睡眠，却未得到充分研究。本文利用来自美国四个渔业的睡眠模式、生活方式因素、职业暴露、病史和健康评估的多模式研究数据，探讨疼痛与睡眠之间的联系。
采用随机整群抽样、研究推广和码头招募相结合的方式，在阿拉斯加鲑鱼、俄勒冈珍宝蟹、马萨诸塞扇贝和马萨诸塞龙虾渔业中收集足够数量的渔民参与研究。对渔民进行了睡眠模式、职业暴露和生活方式因素的调查。参与调查的渔民由职业健康护士、医生或高级执业提供者提供免费的全面健康评估。数据在REDCap中收集，并下载到SAS中，使用多种分析方法进行分析。
在目标研究的四个渔业中，共完成了262份调查问卷和162次体格检查，涉及船长和船员。在海上度过几天的渔业工人（即蟹类、扇贝和鲑鱼渔业），自我报告的平均连续睡眠时间在24小时内约为3.5至4.0小时。特别值得注意的是，大多数渔民，无论从事哪种渔业，都患有背痛，约40%的渔民指出疼痛和不适严重妨碍了他们的睡眠能力。
本研究强调了肌肉骨骼疼痛与睡眠之间的联系，为预防渔民肌肉骨骼损伤提供了进一步的动力。鉴于该行业现有的睡眠债与反复暴露于睡眠不足所带来的健康和安全风险之间的联系，本研究强调了预防这些损伤的必要性，以及为患有肌肉骨骼疾病的渔民提供可能更好的治疗选择的必要性。
