The wildland firefighter exposure and health effect (WFFEHE) study: cohort characteristics and health behavior changes in context

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Ann Work Expo Health
• Personal Author:
  Scott, Kenneth A. ; Wingate, Kaitlin C. ; DuBose, Kathleen N. ; Butler, Corey R. ; Ramirez-Cardenas, Alejandra ; Hale, Christa R.
• Description:
  Objectives:
  
  Work is an under-recognized social determinant of health. There is limited research describing US wildland firefighter (WFF) workforce demographics or how work associates with WFF health behaviors. In this study researchers characterized a WFF cohort and tested hypotheses that WFFs used tobacco, alcohol, and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) differently over the course of the fire season and that different fire crews may exhibit different behavior patterns.
  
  Methods:
  
  Researchers collected data in the field with 6 WFF crews during 2 consecutive fire seasons (2018 and 2019). WFF crews completed questionnaires before and after each season. WFFs with an initial preseason questionnaire and at least 1 follow-up questionnaire were included (n = 138). Descriptive statistics summarized WFFs’ baseline demographic, employment, and health characteristics. Linear mixed models were used to test for changes in WFFs’ substance use over time and assess crew-level differences. A meta-analysis of WFF longitudinal studies’ population characteristics was attempted to contextualize baseline findings.
  
  Results:
  
  WFFs were predominately male, less than 35 yr of age, non-Hispanic White, and had healthy weight. Smokeless tobacco use and binge drinking were prevalent in this cohort (52% and 78%, respectively, among respondents). Longitudinal analyses revealed that during the fire season WFFs’ use of tobacco and SSBs increased and the number of days they consumed alcohol decreased. Crew-level associations varied by substance. The meta-analysis was not completed due to cross-study heterogeneity and inconsistent reporting.
  
  Discussion:
  
  WFF agencies can promote evidence-based substance use prevention and management programs and modify working conditions that may influence WFF stress or substance use.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Firefighters Fires Health Behavior Humans Male Occupational Exposure Substance-Related Disorders
• Source:
  Ann Work Expo Health. 68(2):122-135
• Pubmed ID:
  38164597
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC10922597
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  CC999999/ImCDC/Intramural CDC HHSUnited States/
• Volume:
  68
• Issue:
  2
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:98f328b05ba1c3d103a9bdee7d46f5a229f6102db0f5c997682082713c0cdf4a4a3b962fd24c4ed1b9026c3a8a461e609f9ad38c08f0d9a056b6d17ed909c738
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/151642/cdc_151642_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 921.80 KB ]