Perceptions of Cancer Risk and Gear Decontamination Among Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Firefighters: Insights from a Mixed Methods Study.
| Autor: | Millet B; Department of Interactive Media, University of Miami., Kobetz E, Solle NS, Caban-Martinez AJ |
|---|---|
| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Zdroj: | Journal of occupational and environmental medicine [J Occup Environ Med] 2024 Oct 17. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Oct 17. |
| DOI: | 10.1097/JOM.0000000000003257 |
| Abstrakt: | Objective: Characterize Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) firefighters' perceptions of occupational exposure, health impacts, and decontamination practices, and describe barriers to effective gear cleaning. Methods: A convergent parallel mixed methods design was employed, collecting and analyzing quantitative survey data (n = 81) and qualitative focus group data (n = 52) from ARFF firefighters at three Florida airports. Results: ARFF firefighters expressed concerns about chronic exposure to hazardous materials and perceived a heightened cancer risk. Despite acknowledging the importance of gear decontamination, they reported infrequent cleaning behaviors due to persistent contamination and barriers, including lack of a second set of gear. Firefighters' perceived norms emerged as the primary predictor of gear-cleaning behavior. Conclusions: Targeted interventions and policies are needed to address the unique challenges faced by ARFF firefighters in reducing occupational exposure risks and improving gear decontamination practices. Competing Interests: Disclosures: The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest. (Copyright © 2024 American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.) |
| Databáze: | MEDLINE |
| Externí odkaz: |
|