Year of Award

2015

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

Master of Science (MS)

Department or School/College

Department of Health and Human Performance

Committee Chair

Annie Sondag

Commitee Members

Joseph Domitrovich, Steven Gaskill

Keywords

Barriers Physical Training Wildland Firefighters Needs Assessment

Subject Categories

Public Health | Sociology

Abstract

Abstract:

Mangan, Aria, M.S, Spring 2015 Health and Human Performance

A Needs Assessment: Barriers to Wildland Firefighters Fitness Training

Chairperson: Dr. Annie Sondag

Introduction: Working on a wildland fire can be physically and mentally taxing. Given the physical demands of the job, fitness is a key component in keeping wildland firefighters (WLFFs) healthy and safe from injury. Unfortunately little is known about physical training (PT) programs of WLFFs.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine motivators and barriers to PT in WLFFs. Personal, interpersonal, organizational and environmental factors that influence PT were identified. Strategies for overcoming barriers were recommended.

Methods: This study utilized a descriptive research design. Information about PT practices was collected through interviews with key informants (i.e. individuals in leadership positions who work directly with crew members). Interview data was analyzed qualitatively. Additionally, a questionnaire based on information from the interviews was developed, reviewed by experts, pilot tested and distributed electronically to WLFFs. Questionnaire data was entered in the SPSS statistical program. Barriers and motivators to engaging in PT among crew type were examined for differences.

Results: Sixteen interviews were conducted with key informants from multiple state, federal and volunteer agencies. Two over-arching concepts emerged from interviews as major influences on PT. The first concept, firefighter culture, encompassed several themes. Themes included the powerful influence of leadership and the desire to be seen as a strong, capable and dependable crew member. The second concept, environment, included the influence of factors such as training facilities and equipment and the need for more education about PT. Questionnaire results from over 1000 firefighters reveal the most frequently identified barrier to PT to be projects and work related trainings taking precedence over PT. Multiple motivating factors were identified including having a supervisor that participates in PT and wanting to be seen as a strong crew member.

Conclusions: This project was an attempt to gain an understanding of the current PT practices of WLFFs. More importantly, results from this study identify, from the perspective of the firefighters themselves, the major motivators and barriers to engaging in quality, consistent PT.

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© Copyright 2015 Aria E. Mangan