Evaluating the Effectiveness of Fatigue Management Training to Improve Police Sleep Health and Wellness

A Pilot Study

Abstract

Objectives: 

To evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention for improving sleep health in a sample of employees from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

Methods: 

Using a pre- and post-design we exposed 61 RCMP members to a fatigue-management training program. Pre- and post-intervention surveys included the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL) instrument, and the six item index of psychological distress (Symptom Checklist-90).

Results: 

We found the training improved member satisfaction with sleep (Wald = 2.58; df = 1; P = 0.03) and reduced symptoms of insomnia (Wald = 5.5; df = 1; P = 0.02). Furthermore, the training reduced the incidence of headaches (Wald = 6.5; df = 1; P = 0.01).

Conclusions: 

Our findings suggest that a fatigue management training program resulted in positive sleep health benefits for police. We stress the importance of continued evaluation to inform the large-scale implementation of fatigue-management programs.