RESEARCH QUESTION/OBJECTIVES: This study primarily aims to determine the prevalence, the level of sleepiness as well as the sleeping patterns of Call Center Employees compared to regular office workers using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and self-administered questionnaire on sleep habits.

It specifically aims to determine the prevalence of excessive daytime sleepiness, the factors that contribute to occurrence of daytime sleepiness and the characteristic/behavior of employees that experience daytime sleepiness.

BACKGROUND: Sleep is a vital physiological function. Sleepiness results when sleep loss occurs. Various occupations have increased propensity for lack of sleep among which are shift workers. Call Centers have recently boomed in the Philippines. Although, they constitute a large part of shift workers now, there are no studies on the true prevalence of daytime sleepiness, their sleeping pattern as well as work-related factors that could contribute to sleepiness.

GENERAL STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive, cross-sectional, cohort.

PARTICIPANTS: Call Center employees who worked a shift schedule and aged-match group of office workers.

METHODOLOGY: A self-administered questionnaire was given to call center employees (Appendix A). Each employee has an identification number for confidentiality. The questionnaire consisted of the following: Epworth Sleepiness Score, Questions on Work Schedules, Questions on Sleeping Habits and Patterns, Risk for Insomnia, Risk for Restless Leg Syndrome, and the Berlin Assessment Questionnaire.

OUTCOME MEASURES: Data collected was analyzed according to Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) Scoring System. Statistics done were mostly descriptive to elucidate general characteristics of subjects. T-test, chi-test, and ANOVA with p value 10 is 55.56 percent among call center employees vs 10 percent in control. Mean ESS of call center is 10.88 + 4.12 vs 8.04 +/- 3.00 in control (p