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Firefighter perceptions of cancer risk: Results of a qualitative study
Author(s) -
Anderson David A.,
Harrison Tyler R.,
Yang Fan,
Wendorf Muhamad Jessica,
Morgan Susan E.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.22726
Subject(s) - medicine , occupational cancer , cancer incidence , epidemiology , intervention (counseling) , cancer , firefighting , environmental health , focus group , incidence (geometry) , gerontology , occupational exposure , pathology , nursing , chemistry , organic chemistry , marketing , business , physics , optics
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.