Developing role models for health in the fire service: a pilot case study

The objectives of this case study were to develop role models for health in the fire service through knowledge and behaviour change, to improve the role models' own health, and to facilitate behaviour change in other firefighters through their example.

Volunteers interested in improving their own health and serving as role models to others in the fire service were identified at a statewide Maryland fire service leadership meeting.

Participants worked with the Johns Hopkins Weight Management Center to learn how to improve their own health and shared that knowledge with others in their fire departments.

Three Maryland fire service leaders were recruited at a leadership meeting with the goal of improving their own health and becoming role models. One participant dropped out shortly after beginning, while two male participants, aged 57 and 61, completed the study.

Quantitative measures were collected at baseline and 12 months, and included weight, blood pressure and fasting glucose and cholesterol. Semi-structured interviews were conducted approximately 14 months postintervention to determine the participants' perceptions of their own health and impact on others in the fire service.

Each participant had biweekly to monthly visits over a one-year period to learn the knowledge and skills that would assist him with improving dietary behaviours, increasing fitness and achieving a healthy weight. Case study participants experienced reductions in body weight (-13% and -11% of total body weight), glucose and blood pressure. Qualitative one-on-one interviews conducted postintervention with the participants revealed that they embraced their status as role models and felt their success inspired other firefighters. Their experiences suggest that role models can play an important role in helping firefighters increase self-efficacy, self-regulation and social support in the workplace environment.

These findings provide promising evidence for the use of role models to improve health, especially in the workplace.