Firefighter perceptions of cancer risk: Results of a qualitative study

• Published in: American journal of industrial medicine Vol. 60; no. 7; pp. 644 - 650
• Main Authors: Anderson, David A., Harrison, Tyler R., Yang, Fan, Wendorf Muhamad, Jessica, Morgan, Susan E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01-07-2017
• Subjects: Cancer; Categories; Diet; Epidemiology; Fire fighting; Fire stations; Firefighters; Fires; Focus Groups; Health risk assessment; Health risks; high reliability organizations; Humans; Incidence; Intervention; Male; Neoplasms; Occupational Diseases; Occupational Exposure - adverse effects; Occupational Exposure - prevention & control; occupational health; Qualitative analysis; qualitative methodology; Qualitative Research; Risk Factors; Risk perception; Risk taking; high reliability organizations; cancer; qualitative methodology; occupational health; firefighters
• ISSN: 0271-3586; 1097-0274
• DOI: 10.1002/ajim.22726

Background
Recent epidemiological research on firefighters indicates an increased incidence of specific types of cancer. Intervention is needed in the fire service yet little is known about how firefighters perceive their cancer risk.
Methods
Participant observation (150 h, n = 100) and focus group (n = 17) data were collected from 15 fire stations in South Florida. Firefighters had at least 3 years of experience, ranks included drivers, captains, lieutenants, and specialty captains, with a median age of 51 years.
Results
From the qualitative analysis, two major categories (direct and indirect factors) for cancer risks emerged based on participant notions of cancer risk and cancer prevention behaviors as they relate to firefighting.
Conclusions
Firefighters perceive cancer risks as the result of performing essential job tasks and from indirect job factors related to being a firefighter. The two categories of cancer risks suggest different points of entry for intervention.