An Neven

This study assessed the feasibility of a technology-supported high-intensity interval training (HIIT) program for occupational drivers. A multiphase feasibility study incorporating participant feedback was conducted in Flanders, Belgium, including consultation, pilot, and intervention phases. Occupational drivers were randomized to a HIIT group, an active control group (mindfulness program), or a passive control group (no intervention). The 16-week, equipment-free HIIT program consisted of two 15-min sessions per week, delivered via a technology-supported mobile application, preceded by a 2-week baseline. Primary feasibility outcomes included program completion, session adherence, intervention fidelity, adverse events, and participant experiences, while changes in health-related outcomes were assessed as secondary exploratory outcomes using validated questionnaires. During the consultation (n = 11) and pilot (n = 2) phases, participants reported positive attitudes toward the intervention. Key barriers, including scheduling constraints (n = 5) and bicycle transportation (n = 4), informed refinements such as an equipment-free, technology-supported protocol and flexible scheduling. Of the 23 randomized participants across all groups, 16 participants initiated their assigned study protocol, and 10 completed all assessment points and were included in the final analysis. Of the nine participants allocated to the HIIT group, four initiated the intervention (44.4%), and three completed the program (33.3% of those allocated; 75% of those who initiated). Among the three completers, mean session attendance was 80.2%. Session fidelity was well maintained, but exercise-intensity fidelity could not be objectively confirmed. No exercise-related adverse events were reported. Participant feedback indicated generally positive usability but mixed acceptability of the technology-supported HIIT program among the three participants who completed the intervention. Exploratory individual-level changes in health-related outcomes were heterogeneous, with lower mean scores for depression, anxiety, stress, and fatigue. A technology-supported HIIT program was feasible among the small subgroup of occupational drivers who initiated it, with high session attendance. However, considerable pre-initiation attrition and low retention limit its feasibility for the broader target population. Observed health-related outcomes were heterogeneous and should be interpreted descriptively, warranting evaluation in a fully powered randomized controlled trial.

Background: Occupational freight driving is a highly sedentary occupation that increases the risk of chronic diseases, yet little is known about how drivers' physical activity (PA) and sitting time relate to their health outcomes. This study assessed PA patterns and sitting time on workdays and off-workdays and evaluated their associations with health-related outcomes. Methods: Thirty-three occupational freight drivers (mean age 43.2 ± 10.7 years; 91% male), including long-haul, short-haul, and local delivery drivers, were recruited in Flanders, Belgium. PA and sitting time were objectively measured using a Fitbit Charge 5. Health-related outcomes were assessed using validated instruments, across musculoskeletal, quality of life, mental health, sleep, and fatigue domains. Data were analysed using linear mixed-effects models and linear regression. Results: Participants accumulated 63 min/day of moderate-to-vigorous PA while spending 617 min/day sitting. Step counts and light PA were significantly higher on workdays, whereas vigorous PA was higher on off-work days. Higher PA was observed on off-work days in long-haul drivers and on workdays in local delivery drivers. Musculoskeletal disorders were highly prevalent, and participants reported relatively positive levels of quality of life, depression, anxiety, stress, sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, and fatigue. No significant association was observed between PA, sitting time, and health-related outcomes; however, these findings should be interpreted cautiously, given the limited sample size. Conclusions: This exploratory study shows high PA alongside substantial sedentary time among occupational freight drivers, with distinct patterns across driver subgroups and between workdays and off-work days. Larger longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Background: Truck drivers constitute a high-risk occupational group due to irregular schedules, prolonged sedentary work, fatigue, and limited access to healthcare, contributing to adverse physical and mental health outcomes. Although mobile health (mHealth) tools offer potential to support driver health, sustained engagement remains a persistent challenge. Objectives: This systematic review aimed to identify behavioural, technological, and contextual determinants influencing truck drivers’ compliance, retention, and long-term engagement with digital health interventions. Methods: Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, six eligible studies were identified and thematically synthesised across technology acceptance, behaviour change, and persuasive system design perspectives. Results: Across studies, sustained engagement was facilitated by self-monitoring, real-time feedback, goal-setting, coaching support, and simple, flexible system design. In contrast, technological complexity, high interaction demands, limited digital literacy, privacy concerns, misalignment with irregular schedules, and fatigue consistently undermined engagement and retention. Autonomy, trust, and voluntary participation emerged as cross-cutting determinants supporting continued use. Based on the synthesis, an integrative framework was developed to explain how behavioural, technological, and contextual factors interact to shape truck drivers’ compliance, engagement, and retention with mHealth. Despite generally moderate to high study quality, the evidence base remains fragmented and dominated by short-term evaluations. Conclusions: The findings highlight the importance of context-sensitive, user-centred design to support effective digital health interventions in the trucking sector.

Purpose: Occupational road freight drivers in Europe are crucial to the logistics chain. They deal with difficulties such as deadlines, demanding clients and traffic, which can lead to stress. Due to the driver shortages in Europe, it is crucial to gain more insight into the issues occupational drivers experience to improve their working conditions. Design/methodology/approach: This study gathers data on stressors and strategies to counter stress through two online focus group discussions. In total, eleven drivers participated. The data were analyzed through a semantic inductive approach of thematic analysis and integrated into the JDC model. Findings: The themes that emerged from the analysis were stressors related to company operations, job tasks, clients, and non-work-related stressors. Coping strategies include self-performed strategies, including music or social contact, and solutions such as an improved attitude towards freight drivers, optimized communication between drivers and other parties, better equipment and facilities, and legislation. Practical implications: Recommendations for organizations include (1) a stress management platform, (2) increased peer support, (3) driver appreciation campaigns (including tangible support), (4) improved communication between drivers and other employees and (5) providing proper equipment and information about proper facilities. Originality/value: The results provide deeper insights into driver stressors and strategies against stress. Based on these results, recommendations were made to improve freight driver well-being.

Wearable devices are increasingly used for health and stress monitoring, yet their accuracy under dynamic, real-world conditions remains uncertain. This study validated the heart rate measurement accuracy of one chest-worn device (Zephyr BioHarness 3.0), a research-grade wrist-worn device (EmbracePlus), and five commercial wrist-worn wearable devices (Fitbit Charge 5, Fitbit Sense 2, Garmin Vivosmart 4, WHOOP 4.0, and Withings Scanwatch) against a 12-lead ECG using a 20 min protocol simulating real-life dynamics, including rest and varied-intensity walking. Device performance was evaluated across the full protocol and during transient states, defined as periods of rapid heart rate change. Accuracy and agreement were evaluated across per-second, 10 s, and 60 s resolutions. The Zephyr device showed a strong performance during all dynamic conditions. Among the wrist-worn devices, the Fitbit Charge 5 and Sense 2 showed the highest accuracy overall, while the Garmin Vivosmart 4 demonstrated greater stability during transitions. The WHOOP 4.0, Withings Scanwatch, and EmbracePlus devices performed acceptably during steady-state conditions, but were less accurate during transitions. Performance notably declined across all wrist-worn devices during transient states, with motion onset and large step changes in heart rate exacerbating measurement errors. Larger averaging windows improved accuracy by smoothing variability. The findings underscore that wrist-worn wearable devices may be better suited for average and trend heart rate monitoring rather than capturing acute dynamics. However, the Garmin and Fitbit devices showed suitable when requiring moderate accuracy during dynamic conditions. These results highlight the importance of context-specific validation and informed device selection to ensure effective use in health and stress-related applications.

European occupational road freight drivers face difficulties such as traffic jams, deadlines and demanding customers during their job. Therefore, they often suffer from stress, a problem that may worsen as traffic increases. Europe has a severe driver shortage, so insight into the issues of occupational drivers is needed to improve their working conditions. Through two online focus group discussions with eleven occupational drivers, this study gathered data on stressors and strategies against stress. The data was analysed through thematic analysis, revealing four different stressor types: stressors related to company operations (e.g. dispatching issues), job tasks (e.g. time-related stressors), client-related factors (e.g. disrespect from the client), and non-work-related stressors (e.g. an ill partner). Strategies against stress include coping strategies (e.g. social contact) and solutions such as an improved attitude towards freight drivers, improved communication between drivers and other parties, better equipment and facilities and changes to the law. The insights of this study about occupational driver stressors could be used for e.g. intervention development.