Randomized Trial of a Sleep Disorders Program on Firefighter Safety and Disability ...

The investigators have shown that sleep health education and sleep disorders screening improve health and safety of employees. There is potential to increase the benefits of the sleep health education and screening program if more firefighters are evaluated, diagnosed and referred for treatment. Investigators will evaluate whether firefighters in stations randomized to participate in the Sleep Health and Education Program (SHEP) intervention will have improved health and safety outcomes as compared to firefighters in stations randomized to the control condition.

Firefighters in station randomized to the experimental (early education) will receive the sleep health education program (SHEP) including screening for common sleep disorders. Those found at high risk will be given information about seeking further evaluation, diagnosis and treatment, if necessary.

Firefighters in station randomized to the control condition will not receive SHEP prior to the data collection.

Inclusion Criteria: Firefighters working in one of the two fire departments selected for study Exclusion Criteria: None

Results derived from the proposed work will be shared through presentation at research conferences as well as publication in peer-reviewed journals. We or the journal will submit an electronic version of all final manuscripts upon acceptance for publication to PubMed Central database, in compliance with NIH Policy. If required, published data will also be deposited in publicly available databases. Per NIH Policy, we will make the database available to other investigators following publication of the final study results. The database will not contain identifying information per HIPAA regulations and permission will be obtained from participants to share their data with researchers outside the BWH. Per Partners policies, any investigator or entity requesting the data must request the data in writing in an agreement outlining how the data will be used, protected, and maintained.

Per the NIH Policy on Data Sharing, we will make the database available to other investigators following publication of the final study results. The database will not contain identifying information per the regulations outlined in HIPPA, and permission will be obtained from study participants to share their data with researchers outside the Brigham and Women's Hospital. Per Partners HealthCare System policies, any investigator or entity requesting the data must request the data in writing in an agreement outlining how the data will be used, protected, and maintained, e.g., through a formal Data Use Agreement (DUA) negotiated by a Partners office or a template letter agreement signed by the sharing and receiving PIs.