Firefighters Self-Efficacy Of Injuries And Willingness To Report Injuries Within The Southeast Region Of The United States

CONTEXT: Firefighting is a dangerous profession often leading to minor and severe injuries. Injuries range from basic first aid to fatalities. Over a third of injuries linked to muscular-skeletal injuries (MSKI). To address MSKI, the fire service has turned to preventative and rehabilitation care such as on-site health care professionals. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was 1) to understand rural firefighters' self-efficacy of injury care and willingness to report MSKIs, 2) compare on-site preventative care fire departments to traditional fire departments and 3) describe the influence of on-site self-efficacy of MSKI care and willingness to report injuries based on past injuries. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: 100 southeastern firefighters completed the online survey. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A 17-question survey included questions on demographics, self-efficacy and self-care of musculoskeletal injuries, and willingness to report injuries was sent to firefighters in the southeast region. RESULTS: Firefighters with an on-site health care professional and experienced an injury median scores were statistically significantly different between Yes and Not Applicable for self-efficacy and self-care in evaluating the importance of your symptoms (p= 0.022), doing something to relieve their symptoms (p= 0.029), persisting in finding a symptom remedy even when difficult (p= 0.042), and in my department, there is no blame or stigma attached to reporting an injury(p= 0.020). Firefighters without an on-site health care professional experienced an injury median scores were statistically significantly different between no and not applicable for recognize changes in your health if they occur (p= 0.024), feel quite comfortable reporting an injury (p= 0.017), in my department, people tent to cover up their injuries (p= 0.004), and in my department, there is no blame or stigma attached to reporting an injury (p= 0.004). No significant difference found overall between departments. CONCLUSION: No ...