About half of truck drivers suffer from at least one of the prevalent health issues such as cardiac disease, diabetes, obesity, hypertension, sleep apnea, hypercholesterolemia, or back pain, which increases the risk of premature death.
University of Moncton researcher Dr. Jalila Jbilou wanted to dig deeper into truckers’ health.
A community medicine specialist is conducting a study with 200 drivers in New Brunswick, aimed at improving their health through the provision of accessible and timely services while they are on the road.
“Their willingness to engage with their health was the driver for us in this project,” Jbilou said.
Truck drivers expressed to Jbilou their reluctance to take a day off work to see a doctor, so she adapted the services to accommodate this. Her team provided them with a smartphone, smartwatch, and various health monitoring devices (blood pressure monitor, blood sugar monitor, thermometer), as well as resistance bands, stress balls, and educational material in both English and French.
The Truckers’ Health Adaptive Technology (THAT) project, set to be completed by 2025, focuses on the physical, mental, and social health of truck drivers. Participants are being recruited through word of mouth until June 2024 and will be randomly assigned to either an experimental or a control group.
The experimental group will have access to a complete set of services, while those in the control group will only have access to currently available services. “We are trying to understand the challenges they face under the current services,” Jbilou said.
The team assisted some drivers who used flip phones and lacked technology skills by enhancing their electronic literacy, including setting up email addresses and teaching them how to use a smartphone. “They were open to being trained and using new technology. It was a way to get closer to them. They loved it and they understood that we are here for them,” Jbilou said.
Drivers can video conference, call or text
The clinic, which brings together various disciplines, is headed by a nurse who works with a doctor, pharmacist, occupational therapist, and social worker. Drivers can access the nurse via a cell phone platform, communicating through video, phone call or text message.
“An appointment is set up within 24 hours, sometimes it could be the same day or day after if available,” Jbilou said.
Since drivers are tracked by GPS, they can call in an emergency and the nurse will direct them to the nearest service.
Jbilou said, “Emergencies and complications can be avoided by acting early. People are healthier and even if they have a chronic condition, it is controlled, and they don’t need that many services.”
Educational material provides tailored information about active living on the road. Exercises are explained using the stress balls and resistance bands provided.
Use water bottles to exercise
The drivers are instructed to perform exercises with weights, or substitute with water bottles if weights are not available in their truck. They are then encouraged to drink the water after the workout, however, they are hesitant to do so as it makes them need to urinate and they don’t want to take breaks. “We explained it is unhealthy not to drink water,” she explained.
In response to participant requests, two manual guides were created to address neck and lower back pain. Soon, four medical students will focus on helping drivers prevent hemorrhoids and constipation.
The guide includes lists of healthy food options for one-day, three-day, and extended trips. Drivers are taught how to purchase groceries, with consideration for those who do not have access to a refrigerator. The guide also includes cost comparisons between healthy and unhealthy food options, and information on the dangers of excessive coffee and pop intake, as well as smoking and drug use.
Mental well-being is a key aspect of the study. The guide includes physical exercises aimed at promoting relaxation and has recordings that provide guided mindfulness meditation and breathing exercises of 5 and 20 minutes, depending on the driver’s available time.
The team creates contests like “10 km in 10 days” for the drivers and the winner receives a gift card. One driver lost 18 pounds in three months with no medication, Jbilou said.
All participants receive an initial medical check-up and blood test. A follow-up is conducted after 12 months to assess the program’s impact on knowledge, attitude, behavior, and health outcomes. The research team intends to request additional follow-up from participants after two years.
Jbilou and her team aim to produce policy briefs and advocate for health solutions after six months of follow-ups for all participants if the study results are positive so that it can be scaled up.
“We want to impact health services and the system to make it more responsive to the needs of vulnerable populations,” she said. Since the average of truckers is 55 years, they are comparable to seniors. Jbilou said this kind of program could help seniors living in rural and isolated areas.
