Correlation of Physical Activity, Depression and Sleep Quality with level of Fatigue Amongst Ambulance Drivers
Authors: Talsaniya Shraddha , Chauhan Kajal 
Published: February 2024

BACKGROUND: Ambulance drivers in India experience high levels of stress and fatigue, which can negatively impact their mental and physical health as well as their performance on the job. The unpredictable and traumatic nature of their work can lead to psychological injury and social isolation. To prevent medical errors and injuries, it is important to address the fatigue levels of ambulance drivers through counselling and lifestyle changes such as maintaining a healthy diet and exercise regimen. The purpose of this study is to assess the sleep quality and level of fatigue among ambulance drivers in order to better understand and address their occupational stress.
AIM OF THE STUDY: To find out the Physical Activity, Depression and Sleep Quality in ambulance drivers.
To find out the Correlation between 3 variables (Depression, Sleep Quality & International Physical Activity Questionnaire) with level of fatigue in ambulance drivers.
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY: To assess physical activity amongst ambulance drivers by using International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) in ambulance drivers.
To assess depression amongst ambulance drivers by using Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) in ambulance drivers.
To assess sleep quality amongst ambulance drivers by using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PQSI) in ambulance drivers.
To assess level of fatigue amongst ambulance driver by using fatigue severity Scale (FSS) in ambulance drivers.
To see the Correlation between physical activity (IPAQ) with level of Fatigue in ambulance drivers.
To see the Correlation between depression (DASS-21) with level of Fatigue in ambulance drivers.
To see the Correlation between Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PQSI) with level of Fatigue in ambulance drivers.
METHODOLOGY: Study was approved by the Institutional ethical committee. Total 120 Healthy Ambulance drivers, 120 males were included by convenient sampling. According to inclusion and exclusion criteria data were collected from different hospitals and agency. They were briefly stated the nature of the study. Consent forms were signed by the participants. Demographic data were taken which include basic information like name, age, gender, height, weight, type of job and year of experience. Participants were filled up the scales.
RESULTS: Correlation between Level of fatigue and Level of physical activity was analyzed by Pearson test as the data was normally distributed, r (118) = -0.170 shows weak negative and statistically non-significant (P > 0.01) correlation. Level of fatigue and Level of depression was analyzed by Pearson test as the data, r (118) = 0.594 shows weak positive and statistically significant (P<0.01) correlation. Level of fatigue and sleep quality was analyzed by Pearson test as the data was normally distributed, r (118) = 0.341 shows weak positive and statistically significant (P<0.01) correlation
CONCLUSION: In this present study, level of fatigue was not correlation with physical activity, level of fatigue correlation with sleep quality and depression amongst ambulance drivers

Key words: Physical activity, Depression, Sleep Quality, Fatigue, Ambulance driver