Sleepiness and Sleep Disorders in Shift Workers: A Study on a Group of Italian Police Officers

Shift-work conditions and seniority may enhance sleep disorders and may favor sleep-related accidents, but they do not influence ESS score. Stressful conditions could cause sleepiness to be underestimated, or else they might overcome sleepiness. However, our data should alert occupational health physicians for the diagnosis and prevention of possible undetected intrinsic sleep disorders, which could possibly worsen shift workers' health and increase the risk of accidents.