Firefighter Lung Health: an Impetus for Lung Cancer Screening Program Development

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Public Health
• Cancer Prevention

Background:

• Firefighters experience significant exposure to carcinogens from structural and wildfire smoke.
• Evidence links firefighting to increased lung cancer risk, yet occupation-specific screening guidelines are lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate firefighters' attitudes towards lung cancer screening.
• To inform the development of tailored lung cancer screening programs for firefighters.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was administered to 60 firefighters in the San Francisco Bay Area.
• Data collected included demographics, occupational exposures, and attitudes toward lung cancer screening.
• Logistic regression analyzed factors associated with favorable screening attitudes.

Main Results:

• 95% of firefighters were willing to undergo lung cancer screening, and 98% believed it saves lives.
• Younger firefighters and those actively serving showed greater favorability towards screening.
• Increased recent wildland fire exposure correlated with higher screening favorability, while prior smoking history showed less favorability.

Conclusions:

• Firefighters exhibit strong receptivity to lung cancer screening.
• Targeted educational initiatives and screening protocols are crucial for early detection in this high-risk group.
• Special attention is needed for older firefighters and former smokers regarding screening uptake.