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Accession Number:
AD1166064
Title:
Personal Light Treatment Devices as a Viable Countermeasure for Submariner Fatigue
Descriptive Note:
[Technical Report, Technical Report]
Corporate Author:
NAVAL SUBMARINE MEDICAL RESEARCH LAB GROTON CTNAVAL HEALTH RESEARCH CENTER SAN DIEGO CALEIDOS HOLDINGS INC SAN DIEGO CA
Report Date:
2022-04-06
Pagination or Media Count:
32
Abstract:
Navy submariners experience circadian misalignment and fatigue that can lead to decreases in performance and negative health outcomes. This study investigates whether individualized lighting exposures, through the use of personal light treatment devices PLTDs, can maintain circadian entrainment, improve sleep, and sustain performance in the crew of an active duty U.S. submarine. 42 active duty submariners were randomly assigned to a PLTD group or a control group. Participants in the PLTD group were provided with blue-light exposure glasses and blue-blocking glasses participants in the control group did not use PLTDs. Over the 14-day experimental period, Sailors wearing PLTDs received a greater amount of sleep and more efficient sleep Sailors wearing PLTDs also reported lower levels of sleepiness and presented with higher scores of projected performance effectiveness. Compliance with PLTD use was high, and Sailors did not report any major disruption to operational duties. These data provide preliminary evidence that PLTDs are a viable and effective countermeasure for fatigue onboard U.S. Navy submarines.
Distribution Statement:
[A, Approved For Public Release]
