Firefighter- and fire department-level barriers and promoters of physical activity and fitness among volunteer firefighters: a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews.

Objective: To describe volunteer firefighters' perspectives on how firefighter- and fire department-level factors influence their physical activity and fitness.
Methods: Firefighters (n = 28) were interviewed, stratified by their years of firefighting, using an interview guide. Thematic analysis and systematic coding were employed to analyze the interview transcripts.
Results: Five themes were identified: (1) health and firefighting performance; (2) firefighter time and availability; (3) responsibility of the fire department to support volunteer members' physical fitness; (4) fire training drills as a form of functional physical activity, and (5) fitness initiatives at the department. Interviewing by years of experience showed varied perspectives which converged towards similar conclusions.
Conclusions: Incorporating fitness discussions into department meetings and trainings, and identifying fitness advocates within the department, may contribute to overcoming barriers to physical fitness among volunteer firefighters.
Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: None declared.
(Copyright © 2024 American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.)