Occupational Firefighting: A Detriment to Good Health

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-16-2023

Abstract

Objective

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effect of an online educational module in increasing awareness of depression, substance use disorder and sleep deprivation among firefighters in Monroe County, NY.

Method

Firefighters were recruited via work email and the snowball technique. A quantitative pre and post intervention study was used. Participants completed four surveys before and after completing educational online modules.

Results

There was a 5.11% increase in overall knowledge about sleep deprivation, depression and substance (alcohol) use, a small decrease in the group mean for the depression and sleep deprivation scores after completion of the educational modules.

Conclusion

Increasing content knowledge had a positive effect to participants’ self-awareness during the project. Incorporating educational modules into annual firefighting training could provide opportunities to improve sleep deprivation, depression, and substance use.

DOI

10.1097/JOM.0000000000002787

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