Selected Work-Related Problem for Research
The sky and airplanes have always intrigued me; it is why I see my professional future in civil aviation. The ever-relevant issue of fatigue among flight attendants is caused by the ultra-long range (ULR) route. I am interested in its drivers, adverse effects, and how cabin crew members handle these and apply fatigue risk management in a grueling setting. “Fatigue Risk Management for Cabin Crew: The Importance of Company Support and Sufficient Rest for Work-Life Balance — a Qualitative Study” by Van Den Berg et al. is the article that informed me greatly about these.
Study Population and Sample
The population of the work of Van Den et al. is flight attendants involved in ultra-long-range operations, from 14-16 hours or more. The 25 flight attendants who ever performed their duties in “the Johannesburg-New York ULR route” eventually became a sample (Van Den et al., 2019, p. 7). It is worth mentioning that the authors initially expected a much larger sample, about 1,500 participants (Van Den et al., 2019).
Research Procedures
Data were extracted in two ways: demographic questionnaires containing thematic questions about how participants cope with work-related fatigue and focus group discussions (Van Den et al., 2019). The latter were audio-recorded for further transcription and interpretation. Researchers, external experts, and participants cross-checked the transcriptions obtained. Van Den et al. (2019) applied a thematic approach to extracted data, guided by the pragmatic approach philosophy. Thematic coding and theme development used research tools such as the “6-phase iterative process” and Nvivo 10 (Van Den et al., 2019, p. 9).
Findings of the Study
The primary drivers of fatigue were lack of sleep and rest, high workload, and poor knowledge of mitigating techniques (Van Den et al., 2019). Adequate recovery and healthy work-life balance can be achieved with fatigue management training, enhanced support, more intense communication among professionals, and managers’ involvement (Van Den et al., 2019). The trio of authors also provided recommendations in the discussion section.
Critical Evaluation of the Study
Nothing extraordinary can be seen in the research structure and methodology undertaken by the authors, yet the article provides exciting insights. All design elements of the article are consistent, complementary to each other, and function as intended, from selected populations to analytical procedures. Yet, the sample size is insufficient; there were only 25 participants, which limits the ability of findings and inferences to be extrapolated.
Reference
Van Den Berg, M. J., Signal, T. L., & Gander, P. H. (2020). Fatigue risk management for cabin crew: The importance of company support and sufficient rest for work-life balance — a qualitative study. Industrial Health, 58(1), 1-36. Web.