OP6
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STRUCTURED HEALTH INTERVENTION FOR TRUCKERS (SHIFT) SHORT COURSE WITHIN A MANDATORY HGV DRIVER TRAINING PROGRAMME
S. Clemes1, V. Johnson2, M. Sayyah1, J. King1
1Loughborough University, UK
2University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, UK
Background:
To target HGV drivers’ health inequalities, we created the ‘Structured Health Intervention For Truckers’ (SHIFT), a health promotion programme designed to promote physical activity and positive lifestyle changes (1). As no national-level health education resources exist for HGV drivers, we translated SHIFT into a scalable 1-hour short course (Short-SHIFT), to embed within industry-delivered mandatory driver training. ‘Short-SHIFT’ is designed to raise drivers’ awareness of healthy lifestyle behaviours.
Aims:
This study provides an initial evaluation of the implementation of Short-SHIFT within a compulsory driver training module delivered by a major UK logistics operator to their 7000-HGV driver workforce.
Methods:
Sixty-five driver trainers were trained to deliver Short-SHIFT. Upon completion of Short-SHIFT, drivers are invited to complete an online questionnaire, providing qualitative and quantitative feedback. Quantitative feedback received to date was summarised using descriptive statistics.
Results:
So far, ~900 drivers have experienced Short-SHIFT. Questionnaire responses have been received from 116 drivers (13% of attendees; sample characteristics: 98% male; mean(±SD) age: 51±10 years; BMI 29.3±5.3kg/m2). 83% of drivers found the session interesting and informative; 83%, 82% and 78% agreed that it raised their awareness of the benefits of physical activity, reducing/breaking up sitting, and a healthy diet, respectively. After experiencing Short-SHIFT, 73% reported that they intended to make healthier lifestyle changes.
Conclusions:
Findings to date suggest Short-SHIFT is scalable into HGV drivers’ mandatory training and appears to be effective in raising drivers’ awareness of benefits of adopting healthy lifestyle behaviours. Course engagement appears to motivate drivers to want to make healthier lifestyle changes.
Reference:
- Clemes, S.A., Varela-Mato, V., Bodicoat, D.H. et al. The effectiveness of the Structured Health Intervention For Truckers (SHIFT): a cluster randomised controlled trial (RCT). BMC Med 20, 195 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-022-02372-7
