Prevalence of at-risk drinking among Brazilian truck drivers and its interference on the performance of executive cognitive tasks

Author(s)

de Oliveira, Lucio Garcia ; Leopoldo, Kae ; Cesar Gouvea, Marcela Julio ; Barroso, Lucia Pereira ; Rodrigues Gouvei, Paula Adriana ; Munoz, Daniel Romero ; Leyton, Vilma

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE; v. 166, p. 218-225, SEP 1 2016.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

Background: Binge drinking (BD) has been associated with an increase in the risk of alcohol-related injuries. Alcohol continues to be the main substance consumed by truck drivers, a population of special concern, since they are often involved in traffic accidents. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of BD and its interference in the executive functioning among truck drivers in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Methods: A non-probabilistic sample of 684 truck drivers was requested to answer a structured research instrument on their demographic data and alcohol use. They performed cognitive tests to assess their executive functioning and inventories about confounding variables. The participants were then divided according to their involvement in BD. Results: 17.5% of the interviewees have reported being engaged in BD. Binge drinkers showed a better performance on one test, despite having done so at the expense of more mistakes and lower accuracy. More interestingly, binge drinkers took three seconds longer than non-binge drinkers to inhibit an inadequate response, which is worrisome in the context of traffic. Overall, the deleterious effect of BD on performance remained after controlling for the effects of confounding variables in regression logistic models. Conclusions: As the use of alcohol among truck drivers may be as a way to get by with their work conditions, we believe that a negotiation between their work organization and public authorities would reduce such use, preventing negative interferences on truck drivers' cognitive functioning, which by its turn may also prevent traffic accidents. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/11682-0 - Study on polydrug use, cognitive, mental, and emotional functioning and sleep disorders among truck drivers in the State of São Paulo
• Grantee: Lúcio Garcia de Oliveira
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants