Sample Of Firefighters Research Articles

Enhancing firefighters' mental health with exercise: Evaluating the effects of a 7-week long physical activity intervention on burnout and other well-being related constructs

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a 7-week long complex intervention (high-intensity interval training which focused on several fitness parameters and made use of firefighting equipment and materials) among French firefighters with moderate or elevated levels of burnout. Forty voluntary participants were randomly allocated to one of two groups: a control group (n = 20) or a physical activity group (n = 20). Participants in the physical activity group exercised twice a week for 60 min over a period of 7 weeks at their fire station. Four psychological assessment sessions were conducted: at T0 (just before the program), T1 (in the middle of the program), T2 (just after the end of the program), and T3 (1 month after the end of the program). Our primary focus was on the Schaufeli's Burnout Assessment Tool questionnaire (BAT). We also examined the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE), the Profile of Mood States (POMS), and the Ways of Coping Checklist (WCC), as secondary outcomes. Results revealed that participants in the physical activity group reported significantly reduced burnout scores immediately following the training program (p < 0.001). These benefits were still present 1 month after the end of intervention. No significant change was observed in the control group. The physical activity program had no significant effect on any of the secondary outcomes. Further research evaluating this training program in larger samples of firefighters could help confirm these findings.

Safety climate and seat belt use in the fire service

Objective Motor vehicle incidents or apparatus crashes are a leading cause of firefighter fatalities in the United States. Nonuse of seat belts has been linked to some of these fatalities. This research seeks to understand the relationship between safety climate and seat belt use among firefighters, as findings will provide insights into factors that may bolster seat belt use and protect firefighters. Methods Data were collected from 208 career firefighters working for a city fire department in the southeastern United States. Structural equation modeling was used to test a hypothesized model and to assess the relationships between organizational safety climate, work group safety climate and seat belt use. Results It was determined that positive perceptions of workgroup safety climate, as a higher order factor, comprised of supervisor support, horizontal cohesion, and vertical cohesion, was positively associated with seat belt use within a sample of firefighters. Organizational level safety climate did not have a significant relationship with seat belt use but did positively influence workgroup safety climate perceptions. Conclusions Safety climate has been associated with safety compliance and participation behaviors, but more research was needed to specifically examine the impact of safety climate on seat belt use in firefighters. The findings point to the importance of safety climate as a leading indicator and predictor of seat belt use. Bolstering safety climate through safety programs, commitment to safety, effective communication, supportive supervisors and cohesion should ultimately aid in bolstering seat belt use among firefighters, which is important to curtailing firefighter injuries and fatalities.

Network of Mindfulness and Difficulties in Regulating Emotions in Firefighters

ObjectivesGrowing evidence supports the role of mindfulness in regulating emotions in the general population. However, the interactive network of mindfulness facets and difficulties in regulating emotions is not well understood, which is specifically important for individuals involved in high-risk professions, such as first responders. The aim of this study was to investigate the interactive relations between mindfulness facets (acting with awareness, non-judging, describing, observing, and non-reacting), ability to regulate emotions and alcohol use in a sample of firefighters, including military veterans.MethodA sample of 685 career firefighters, of whom 154 (22.5%) are military veterans, completed measures of mindfulness and difficulties in regulating emotions. The dataset was subjected to network analysis.ResultsThe mindfulness facet non-judging was negatively related to emotion-regulation challenges, such as nonaccepting attitudes and lack of clarity, and positively related to deficits in goal-directed behaviour. Acting with awareness was negatively related to goal-directed behaviour deficits and impulsivity. Alcohol use was positively linked to impulsivity and negatively linked to describing. Overall, emotion-regulation difficulties were positively linked together, and positive links were found between most mindfulness facets. Directed network analysis found non-judging and emotion-regulation strategy as primary predictors. Non-judging acted as a protective factor, supporting other mindfulness facets, while emotion-regulation strategy exacerbated emotion-regulation challenges acted as a risk factor.ConclusionsThis network analysis demonstrated that acting with awareness and a non-judgmental attitude, facets of mindfulness, are linked to better emotion-regulation and may play protective role against impulsivity and alcohol use.

The appearance of multidimensionality: Exploring the case for unidimensionality of the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 using a firefighter sample.

Rasmussen et al. (2019) described the proliferation of factors for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) measures and raised concerns about the construct validity of factors that include two or three items. In this brief report, we describe how the pattern of covariation among the responses to items of well-established measures, such as the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), can give the appearance of multidimensionality. We evaluated whether the structure of the 20-item PCL-5 is unidimensional, using the methods of multidimensional item response theory (MIRT) and the concept of a testlet. These analyses were done using a sample of trauma-exposed urban firefighters. A unidimensional and a bifactor model, which includes a general factor composed of all items and four specific factors mirroring the DSM-5 conceptualization, were evaluated for both Likert-type multiple-category and binary coding system of the PCL-5 item response data. Seven testlets were created from the 20 PCL-5 items following the seven-factor model (Armour et al., 2015) presented in Table 1 of Rasmussen et al. (2019). Findings using the unidimensional nominal item response theory model for the seven testlets indicated that the PCL-5 may be considered unidimensional with a single score representing individual differences on a continuum that ranges from low to high. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Longitudinal assessment of psychological distress and its determinants in a sample of firefighters based in Montreal, Canada.

Firefighters face elevated risks of common mental health issues, with distress rates estimated at around 30%, surpassing those of many other occupational groups. While exposure to potentially traumatic events (PTEs) is a well-recognized risk factor, existing research acknowledges the need for a broader perspective encompassing multidimensional factors within the realm of occupational stress. Furthermore, this body of evidence heavily relies on cross-sectional studies. This study adopts an intensive longitudinal approach to assess psychological distress and its determinants among firefighters. Participants were recruited from 67 fire stations in Montreal, Canada, meeting specific criteria: full-time employment, smartphone ownership, and recent exposure to at least one PTE, or first responder status. Subjects underwent a telephone interview and were directed to use an app to report depressive, post-traumatic, and generalized anxiety symptoms every 2 weeks, along with work-related stressors, social support, and coping styles. Analyses involved 274 participants, distinguishing between those exceeding clinical thresholds in at least one distress measure (the "distressed" subgroup) and those deemed "resilient." The duration and onset of distress were computed for the distressed group, and linear mixed models were employed to evaluate determinants for each psychological distress variable. Clinical psychological distress was observed in 20.7% of participants, marked by depressive, post-traumatic, and anxiety symptoms, often within the first 4-week reference period. Contextual factors (operational climate, social support, solitude) and individual factors (coping style, solitude and lifetime traumatic events in private life) exhibited more significant impacts on psychological distress than professional pressures within the firefighters' work environment. This study reports lower rates of psychological distress than previous research, possibly attributable to sample differences. It highlights that reported symptoms often represent a combined and transient layer of distress rather than diagnosable mental disorders. Additionally, determinants analysis underscores the importance of interpersonal relationships and coping mechanisms for mental health prevention interventions within this worker group. The findings carry implications for the development of prevention and support programs for firefighters and similar emergency workers.

Occupational exposure and health of wildland firefighters: protocol for a systematic review

The frequency of forest fires has increased in recent years. This phenomenon has led to an increase in the difficulty of fighting them and an increase in the occupational exposure of firefighters. This study aims to carry out a systematic review protocol to obtain information on firefighters' occupational exposure on the fire front. A protocol was carried out following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: PRISMA Statement guidelines. There were no age, gender or publication date restrictions for including articles within the scope of firefighter samples. The study aimed to understand all the risks to which firefighters are exposed when fighting forest fires and their relationship with the onset of occupational diseases. Thus, all studies with laboratory or real-time monitoring, using samples of firefighters, and which carried out evaluations that made it possible to identify exposure risk factors and their relationship with occupational activity were included. This list makes it possible to verify all the studies carried out up to the date of the review on this subject and to guarantee a contribution to improving knowledge in this area of research.

The role of positive affect processes in the association between posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and sleep: A multi-study design

ObjectivesPosttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms have been linked to sleep disturbances. Limited work has explored how positive affect processes may account for this relationship. Advancing research in this area, we utilized a multi-study design to investigate the role of positive affect processes (levels of positive affect, positive emotionality, hedonic deficits, negative affect interference) in the PTSD-sleep association. MethodsData from 149 trauma-exposed firefighters (Mage = 38.93 ± 9.65, 5.40 % women) were collected between September 2021 and November 2021, and data from 119 trauma-exposed community members (Mage = 29.60 ± 8.67, 68.10 % women) were collected between February 2021 and December 2021. Participants completed an online survey on PTSD symptoms, sleep disturbances, and positive affect processes. ResultsPositive affect levels (b = 0.03, 95 % confidence interval [CI] [0.01, 0.06]; firefighter sample), positive emotionality (b = 0.07, CI [0.03, 0.13]; community sample), and negative affect interference (b = 0.06, CI [0.01, 0.14]; community sample) significantly accounted for the associations between PTSD symptom severity and sleep disturbances controlling for the effects of gender and age. ConclusionFindings highlight the role of positive affect processes in the link between PTSD and sleep, and support addressing positive affect processes as potential targets in clinical interventions for co-occurring PTSD-sleep problems.

Assessing Firefighters' Tourniquet Skill Attainment and Retention: A Controlled Simulation-Based Experiment.

The aim of this study was to train and assess firefighters' skill attainment in the use of tourniquets, and to assess their skill retention after 3 mo. The purpose is to show if firefighters can successfully apply a tourniquet after a short course based on the Norwegian national recommendation for civil prehospital tourniquet use. This is a prospective experimental study. The study population were firefighters, and the inclusion criterion was any on-duty firefighter. The first phase consisted of baseline precourse testing (T1), a 45-min course, followed by immediate retesting (T2). The second phase consisted of retesting of skill retention after 3 mo (T3). A total of 109 participants at T1, 105 at T2, and 62 participants at T3. The firefighters achieved a higher proportion of successful tourniquet applications at T2 (91.4%; 96 of 105) as well as T3 (87.1%; 54 of 62) compared with 50.5% at T1 (55 of 109) (P = 0.009). Mean application time was 59.6 s (55.1-64.2) in T1, 34.9 s (33.3-36.6) in T2 and 37.7 s (33.9-41.4) in T3. A sample of firefighters can successfully apply a tourniquet after a 45-min course based on the 2019 Norwegian recommendation for civil prehospital tourniquet use. Skill retention after 3 mo was satisfactory for both successful application and application time.

“Trying to Eat an Elephant”: The Complexities of Bullying Training in the Fire Service

&lt;i&gt;Bullying in the fire service has long been overlooked, although efforts to understand the phenomenon have increased over the past few decades. Recent research has highlighted high rates of bullying in the fire service, regardless of gender and race. Despite established issues of bullying, workplace bullying training has yet to be examined in the fire service. Using qualitative data from interviews with a national sample of firefighters and fire service leaders, this foundational research sought to understand current and future needs related to training on bullying prevention and effective messaging for the fire service. Common themes that emerged from the data include current training opportunities, the effectiveness of training, and components of effective training.&lt;/i&gt;

Stress perçu, stratégies de coping et santé générale chez les sapeurs-pompiers de Seine-et-Marne

IntroductionDue to the nature of their internal security missions (fires, traffic accidents, natural, industrial and technological disasters), firefighters are exposed to human suffering and stress on a daily basis. Although there is an abundance of studies on post-traumatic stress disorder in firefighters, there is a lack of scientific literature on the measurement of perceived stress and coping strategies used by firefighters to deal with these stressful situations. Objectives1) to compare our sample of firefighters to the general population concerning perceived stress, coping strategies, and general somatic and psychological health, 2) to analyze and compare these results on different subcategories of firefighters: male and female, volunteer or professional status, officer or non-commissioned rank, seniority of less than one year or more than five years. Material and methodAn Internet link was sent to 82 fire fighters in the Seine-et-Marne department by their center chief, including a socio-demographic questionnaire as well as three self-administered questionnaires measuring perceived stress (PSS-10), coping strategies (WCC-R), and general health (GHQ-28). The anonymity of the agents and the confidentiality of the data were respected, and a voluntary and informed consent form was signed in advance. ResultsFirefighters were no more stressed than the general population, but they used emotion-focused coping strategies and sought out social support services less frequently. On the other hand, female firefighters reported more stress, more frequent use of emotion-focused coping, and had more severe health indicators than their male colleagues. Conversely, no significant differences were found between volunteer and professional firefighters, nor between officers and other hierarchical classes, nor between agents who had been in service for less than one year or for more than five years. ConclusionAlthough the low proportion of officers and women in our sample is a methodological limitation to our study, it does allow us to question the mental health of women in this profession. Future research is needed to better understand the psychological reality of women in the corps and to open the debate on the need for feminization of the profession.

Cardiometabolic Biomarkers and Habitual Caffeine Consumption Associate with the Adverse Ambulatory Blood Pressure Response to Strenuous Physical Exertion among Firefighters.

Caffeine has beneficial effects on firefighter job performance reducing fatigue and improving psychomotor vigilance. However, excessive caffeine intake may raise blood pressure (BP) following a bout of acute exercise among adults with elevated BP. The influence of caffeine intake on the ambulatory BP (ABP) response to vigorous physical exertion among firefighters has not been studied. In this sub-study we conducted secondary statistical analyses from a larger clinical trial (NCT04514354) that included examining the influence of habitual caffeine intake, and cardiometabolic biomarkers shown to influence BP, on the ABP response following a bout of sudden vigorous exertion over 19 h among firefighters. Previously, we found high amounts of calcium and sodium intake raised BP following a bout of acute exercise among adults with elevated BP. Thus, other secondary aims were to examine the influence of habitual calcium and sodium intake, and cardiometabolic biomarkers have shown to influence BP, on the ABP response following sudden vigorous exertion over 19 h among firefighters. Firefighters (n = 15) completed a Food-Frequency Questionnaire assessing habitual dietary intake over the past year. They randomly completed a maximal graded exercise stress test (GEST) and non-exercise CONTROL on separate non-workdays leaving the laboratory wearing an ABP monitor for 19 h. Prior to and immediately after the GEST, fasting venous blood was collected to measure lipid-lipoproteins, c-reactive protein, and blood glucose. Height and weight were taken to calculate body mass index. Repeated measures ANCOVA tested if the ABP response differed after GEST vs. CONTROL. Linear mixed models examined the relationships among caffeine, calcium, sodium, cardiometabolic biomarkers, and the ABP response following GEST vs. CONTROL. Firefighters were middle-aged (40.2 ± 9.5 year), overweight (29.0 ± 3.9 kg/m2) men with elevated BP (124.1 ± 10.3/79.6 ± 11.5 mmHg) who consumed 542.0 ± 348.9 mg of caffeine/day, about ~50% more than the dietary reference intake. Unexpectedly, systolic ABP was higher by 18.0 ± 6.7 mmHg and diastolic ABP by 9.1 ± 5.4 mmHg (ps < 0.01) over 19 h following GEST vs. CONTROL. We found 24% of the variance in the adverse ABP response to maximal physical exertion was explained by caffeine intake, and when combined with c-reactive protein, non-high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, body mass index, blood glucose, and resting heart rate, up to 74% of the variability in the ABP response was explained. Additionally, we found calcium (ps < 0.001) and sodium (p < 0.0001) intake each explained up to 24% of the ABP response. Further investigation is needed in a larger, more diverse sample of firefighters to better establish how caffeine contributes to the adverse BP response to strenuous physical exertion.

The Role of the Job Title and Material and Moral Incentives in Achieving Job Satisfaction, The Case of Libya's Firefighting and Rescue Teams

Police personnel, firefighters, and rescue teams were ignored in job satisfaction research. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of material and moral incentives and the difference in job title on job satisfaction among police officers, firefighters and rescue teams in Libya. Using a cross-sectional approach, 176 questionnaires were distributed to a random sample of firefighters and rescue teams in the National Safety Authority in Tripoli, Libya. The results of analysis in SPSS revealed that police officers, firefighters, and rescue teams are prone to show behaviors that lead to counterproductive results such as job dissatisfaction due to poor material and moral incentives provided to fire and rescue teams with no impact of job title. Thus, both policeman and civilian firefighting and rescue personnel can have similar perceptions and experiences of material and moral incentives. Also, both personnel are more motivated by moral incentives than material incentives. This study is one of the pioneers in expanding the discussion of job satisfaction among police officers, firefighters, and rescue teams in Libya. This study also motivates researchers and practitioners to investigate and explain the satisfaction of employees in the police sector in Libya.

The Moderating Role of Emotional Intelligence on the Relationship Between Conflict Management Styles and Burnout among Firefighters

BackgroundWhile the organizational factors that account for firefighters' burnout have been extensively explored, the individual factors related to how they regulate interpersonal conflicts and emotions remain to be investigated. Previous research has demonstrated the association between emotional intelligence and conflict management styles and burnout, but no study has looked at the interrelationships among these factors in high-risk sectors. The present exploratory study aimed to fill this research gap by investigating the relationships between conflict management style, emotional intelligence and burnout in a sample of firefighters. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted with 240 French firefighters. Measures comprised validated scales of conflict management styles, emotional intelligence and burnout. ResultsResults showed that the integrating conflict style reduced burnout. They also revealed the effects of emotion regulation on burnout, whereby the awareness and management of one's own emotions reduced burnout. Moreover, awareness of one's own emotions moderated the relationship between integrating conflict resolution style and burnout, whereby the effect of integrating style on reduced burnout was higher when awareness of one's own emotions was high. ConclusionThese results reveal that strategies used by firefighters to regulate their emotions in order to meet the emotional demands specific to their job are important for reducing the emotional exhaustion component of burnout. Training programs for conflict and emotion management are needed to preserve the mental health of firefighters and ensure the safety of interventions.

Longitudinal associations between hair cortisol, PTSD symptoms, and sleep disturbances in a sample of firefighters with duty-related trauma exposure

Several studies have found evidence of altered cortisol levels in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Based on these findings, it is assumed that these patients may show signs of cortisol dysregulation after trauma. Posttrauma cortisol levels are thus considered a potential biomarker of PTSD. However, longitudinal studies using indicators of long-term cortisol secretion such as hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) are scarce. The current study investigated prospective associations between HCC and PTSD symptoms in a sample of Dutch firefighters taking into account varying levels of work-related trauma severity. In addition, we assessed posttraumatic sleep disturbances as a secondary outcome measure to investigate whether effects generalize to this frequent comorbidity of PTSD. Three hundred seventy-one Dutch firefighters with a mean of 14.01 years of work experience were included in the analyses. Baseline assessment included the collection of hair samples and the measurement of work-related trauma severity, PTSD symptoms, and sleep disturbances. PTSD symptoms and sleep disturbance were re-assessed after six and twelve months. Multilevel analyses indicate a significant positive correlation between HCC and baseline PTSD symptoms in those with average or above-average work-related trauma severity. A similar pattern was evident for posttraumatic sleep disturbances at baseline. Moreover, higher HCC predicted more posttraumatic sleep disturbances after 6 months in participants with above-average work-related trauma severity. No other associations emerged for PTSD symptoms or posttraumatic sleep disturbances at six or twelve months. As such, our study supports the existence of a cross-sectional association between HCC and trauma symptoms, which may vary for different levels of subjective trauma severity. The longitudinal stability of this association should be reinvestigated by future research.

A Dark Side of Team Identification: Negative Effects in the Stress &amp; Coping Process for Firefighters

A significant amount of research has been devoted to understanding the benefits of both organizational and team identification. However, the processes outlined in social identity theory that are typically framed in a positive light because they encourage behavior that benefits the group (i.e., internalization of group norms) can just as easily have negative effects. In this study we examine the dark side of team identification by proposing a moderated-mediation model wherein the interaction between masculinity contest culture and team identification results in maladaptive coping (detachment and self-blame) and negative mental health outcomes. Our analysis was based on a time-lagged design with a sample of firefighters. Results confirmed that team identification can be a detriment in the stress and coping process as masculinity contest culture was indirectly related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) through maladaptive coping strategies when team identification was high but not when team identification was low. Our study advances social identity theory and theories of stress by illustrating how strong team identification can result in negative outcomes when team norms are dysfunctional.

Hypertension in the United States Fire Service.

Hypertension is a major risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and cardiac remodeling and is associated with an increased risk of sudden cardiac events, the leading cause of duty-related death in the fire service. We assessed systemic blood pressures and prevalence of hypertension among US firefighters by decade of life. Medical records of career firefighters (5063 males and 274 females) from four geographically diverse occupational health clinics were assessed. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure ≥130 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥80 mmHg, or taking antihypertensive medication. Results from the firefighter sample were compared to the US general population (2015–2016 and 2017–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys). Among the total sample, 69% of firefighters met the criteria for hypertension and 17% were taking antihypertensive medications. Percentages of hypertensive male and female firefighters were 45% and 11% among 20–29 years old, respectively, and increased to 78% and 79% among 50–59 years old, respectively. Compared to the general population, male firefighters had a higher prevalence of hypertension (p < 0.05) across all age groups (11–16% higher). In order to improve firefighter health and protect against sudden incapacitation in this public safety occupational group, increased efforts are necessary to screen for and manage high blood pressure.

Predictors of PTSD and CPTSD in UK firefighters

ABSTRACT Background: Globally, professional firefighters are often exposed to traumatic events and are at high risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Objective: With the publication of the 11th edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) there arose a need for research based on the new diagnostic criteria, and the associated disorder, Complex PTSD (CPTSD). Method: Participants were 1300 former or present firefighters from the UK. Prevalence rates of PTSD and CPTSD were estimated using International Trauma Questionnaire in accordance with ICD-11 criteria, and service related and personal trauma exposure were also assessed using an anonymous online questionnaire. Multinomial logistic regression was performed to assess how service and personal trauma exposure predicted PTSD and CPTSD. Results: CPTSD criteria were met by 18.23% (95% CI 16.13–20.33%) and PTSD criteria were met by 5.62% (95% CI 4.37–6.87%) of the sample. Experiencing higher levels of service-related trauma significantly increased the risk for both PTSD and CPTSD, and nonwork related trauma uniquely predicted CPTSD but not PTSD. Conclusions: This study provided the first examination of the new ICD-11 criteria for PTSD and CPTSD in a large sample of firefighters, and CPTSD was more common than PTSD. Exposure to multiple different types of trauma increased the odds of PTSD and CPTSD.

Caffeine Intake Influences The Blood Pressure Response To Strenuous Physical Exertion Among Firefighters

Caffeine may diminish the immediate blood pressure (BP) reductions that occur after an exercise bout, termed post-exercise hypotension (PEH). Neither PEH nor the influence of caffeine on PEH have been studied in firefighters (FF), who have a disproportionate high risk of sudden cardiac death on the job, partially due to its strenuous nature and poor nutrition. PURPOSE: To examine the influence of caffeine intake (CAF) on PEH after a maximal graded exercise stress test (GEST) in FF. METHODS: FF (n=15) completed a non-exercise control (CONTROL) and GEST in random order on separate non-work days. They left the laboratory attached to an ambulatory BP (ABP) monitor for 19hr. CAF was assessed with the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey food-frequency questionnaire. Repeated measures ANCOVA in SAS tested if the ABP response after GEST vs CONTROL differed by CAF group divided by the median as high (806.8+190.7mg) and low (239.3+202.9mg) with baseline ABP as a covariate. RESULTS: FF were overweight (29.0+3.9kg/m2), middle-aged (40.2+9.5yr) men with elevated resting BP (124.1+10.3/79.6+11.5mmHg). CAF tended to be positively correlated with resting SBP (r=.50, p=.06) and DBP (r=.50, p=.06). Among the total sample, the systolic ABP (ASBP) (18.0+4.8mmHg, p<.01) and diastolic ABP (ADBP) (9.1+1.5mmHg, p<.01) changes from baseline were greater after GEST vs CONTROL over 19hr, independent of CAF (Ps>0.05), but with significant interactions among ASBP, ADBP, and CAF over 19hr (Ps<0.05). These interactions revealed ASBP was consistently greater after GEST vs CONTROL over 19hr in high CAF (p<=0.01 GEST vs CONTROL); whereas in low CAF the difference in ASBP after GEST vs CONTROL was variable over 19hr (p=0.03 GEST vs CONTROL x Time). By contrast, the ADBP response after GEST vs CONTROL over 19hr tended to be greater in low (15.3+4.5mmHg, p=.08) than high CAF (4.4+2.4mmHg, p=.05). DISCUSSION: This small sample of FF exhibited post-exercise hypertension and CAF seemed to modulate this adverse response. Further study is needed in a larger sample of FF to confirm our findings and better establish the relationship of these associations. Supported by the University of Connecticut Institute for Collaboration on Health Intervention and Policy and the United States Department of Agriculture (SAES, HATCH Project No. CONS00954).

Factors Influencing the Mental Health of Firefighters in Shantou City, China.

BackgroundFirefighters are routinely exposed to occupational stress and are therefore vulnerable to psychological problems.Patients and MethodsThis study assessed the prevalence of mental health symptoms and potential contributing factors in a sample of firefighters in Shantou city, in the Guangdong Province of China. We conducted a cross-sectional survey with 335 firefighters, including 329 male and 6 female firefighters. We used a questionnaire which assessed anxiety and depression, as indicated by the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), as well as other mental health symptoms, using the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90). Basic information and potential-related factors were also collected.ResultsThe average age of participants was 27.38 (SD ± 6.11) years. Assessed by the indexed score of different scales, SAS and SDS positive screening rates were 6.86% and 22.68%, respectively. SCL-90 scores indicated that 6.86% of participants had mental health symptoms. Logistic regression analysis showed that educational level, firefighter rank, and birth order were associated with mental health outcomes. Firefighters in Shantou were also shown to have better mental health outcomes than the Chinese military, but worse than the national population of firefighters.ConclusionThese findings indicated the mental health of firefighters is not good. It is necessary to explore effective approaches to help preventing and treating mental disorder in firefighters.

Characterizing Objective and Self-Reported Levels of Physical Activity Among Florida Firefighters Across Weight Status Category: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study.

Background: Firefighters suffer from a disproportionally high burden of chronic diseases that could be prevented from regular bouts of physical activity (PA). The goal(s) of this pilot study were to (a) describe typical PA levels in professional paid firefighters, and (b) assess their ability to estimate their own levels of PA. Methods: A repeated measures study design was used to assess self-reported and objectively measured levels of PA from a non-probabilistic sample of firefighters (n = 18) over 1 week. Objective measures of PA, measured by accelerometry were defined as the number of minutes spent in sedentary, light, moderate, and vigorous PA. Firefighters completed a follow-up questionnaire recording their self-reported levels of PA. Results: Obese (body mass index [BMI] > 30 kg/m2) firefighters spent 8,033 ± 2,543 minutes/week in sedentary activity, overweight (BMI = 25-29 kg/m2) firefighters 6,533 ± 1,587 minutes/week, and healthy weight (BMI = 18.5-24.9 kg/m2) firefighters 5,846 ± 1,160 minutes/week. The difference in self-reported weekly minutes spent in light, moderate, and vigorous activity and objectively measured minutes in activity was calculated. Healthy weight firefighters reported the least difference (1,924 minutes/week), followed by the overweight (3,884 minutes/week) and obese (5,749 minutes/week). Conclusion/Application to Practice: Firefighters poorly estimated their true level of PA compared with their objectively measured PA and obese firefighters reported the greatest inconsistency. Occupational health nurses should aim to support firefighters in achieving PA levels that assist firefighters to achieve a healthy weight and educate them about what it means to be engaged in each level of PA.