Surveillance of industrial physicians' knowledge and concern about sleep apnea syndrome

Abstract

Sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) is a risk factor in lifestyle-related disease known to be closely associated with traffic and occupational accidents. Because of its high morbidity in middle-aged men, early diagnosis and management by industrial physicians are important. We clarified the degree of knowledge and concern about SAS among industrial physicians. We e-mailed questionnaires to 199 industrial physicians belonging to the Industrial Medical Promotion Society, and received responses from 51 (40 contracted and 11 part-time industrial physicians). Most answered that industrial physicians should participate in the management of SAS to prevent doze accidents, to control lifestyle-related diseases, to judge vocational fitness, and to lower economical expense. Fewer than 30% of physicians had conducted educational activities, and even fewer had practiced interviews and screening for SAS. Financial difficulty, lack of specialized hospitals for SAS, lack of labor, and a lack of concern among executives are major obstacles to SAS screening for employees. We concluded that, despite the concern industrial physicians, SAS is practically disregarded in their work. Cost-and time-effective screening and guidelines for employees with SAS should be established to facilitate the management of SAS by industrial physicians.