Workplace-based integrative care for firefighters: real-world evidence from a visiting healthcare program

Firefighters, as essential workers, face substantial barriers to healthcare access due to shift work, unpredictable schedules, and physically demanding duties. Workplace-based healthcare delivery models have emerged as a potential strategy to address these access gaps, yet real-world evidence remains limited.

This study evaluated a workplace-based visiting healthcare program implemented at fire stations in Seoul, Korea, between September 2023 and February 2024. A retrospective chart review assessed changes in pain intensity among firefighters receiving integrative care, including acupuncture and Chuna manual therapy, while a cross-sectional survey examined user satisfaction, perceived need, and acceptability of the program.

Forty firefighters were included in the clinical evaluation, showing significant reductions in pain intensity (Numeric Pain Rating Scale, median [IQR]: 4.0 [4.0-6.0] to 2.0 [1.0-2.0]; Wilcoxon signed-rank test, p < 0.001), with 97.5% achieving the minimal clinically important difference. The intervention was well-tolerated, with only minor and transient adverse events reported. Survey responses from 133 participants indicated high satisfaction (median 4 out of 5 for all items) and strong willingness to recommend the service (88.0%). Most respondents recognized the need for such services (92.0%) and supported their integration into institutional healthcare systems (84.0%).

Workplace-based integrative care may represent a feasible and acceptable model to improve healthcare access among shift-based essential workers. These findings provide real-world evidence supporting workplace-based healthcare delivery models for shift-based essential workers.