Using Collaborative Partnerships to Engage Firefighters in Rural Communities

The purpose of this study was to utilize community-based participatory research (CBPR) methods to identify behaviors that may increase the exposure rates of firefighters to carcinogens and other occupational hazards. Key informant interviews and focus groups were conducted as part of a larger study that included exposure assessments at fire stations, in fire engines, and in personal vehicles. A purposive sample of five fire chiefs and leaders of the firefighter association was chosen, and these individuals were selected to participate in interviews. Unstructured interviews explored issues related to firefighter exposures and occupational hazards. Three focus groups were conducted over a three-month period. Following the focus groups, survey questions emphasizing the following three aspects of firefighting were developed: exposure to airborne smoke contaminants during fire suppression, accumulated exposure on turnout gear after fire suppression, and exposure to airborne contaminants at the fire departments. The use of community-based participatory research can be very beneficial, especially when conducting research with a group that may be hard to reach or have misgivings regarding researchers. By utilizing this approach in the current study, researchers were able to partner with a community that may be hard to reach and gain buy-in from community leadership.