The Wildland Firefighter Exposure and Health Effect (WFFEHE) Study: Cohort Characteristics and Health Behavior Changes in Context

Details

• Personal Author:
  Butler, Corey R. ; DuBose KN ; Hale CR ; Ramirez-Cardenas A ; Scott KA ; Wingate KC
• Description:
  Objectives: Work is an under-recognized social determinant of health. There is limited research describing US wildland firefighter (WFF) workforce demographics or how to 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. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Behavior Cohort Studies Demography Firefighters Fires Occupational Health Safety Surveys And Questionnaires Wildfires
• Keywords:
  Cohort Studies Demographic Characteristics Fire Fighters Health Effects Questionnaires Seasonal Factors
• ISSN:
  2398-7308
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Colorado ; Georgia ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 8
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  WSD - Western States Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  122-135
• Volume:
  68
• Issue:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20069085
• Citation:
  Ann Work Expo Health 2024 Mar; 68(2):122-135
• Contact Point Address:
  Kenneth A. Scott, NIOSH Western States Division, PO Box 25226, Denver, CO 80225
• Email:
  kscott4@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2024
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Annals of Work Exposures and Health
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:079fdbb8137d0ab956fd7f8eacbd59df1f8d8df7437adb0329d18f613b4bead0260d079f5abb57392790526a3628a472302c82cc0ec19db5e6ca3488454e697b
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/207631/cdc_207631_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 320.89 KB ]