NCT05745246

Firefighters Preventing Cancer Online Training Program

Firefighters Preventing Cancer: Cluster Randomized Trial of an Online Training Program for Cancer Prevention Behaviors in Volunteer Firefighters

• Status: Active Not Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 179 (actual)
• Sponsor: IWK Health Centre · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: —
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The goal of this two-arm, Cluster Randomized Trial is to evaluate an e-health training program for volunteer firefighters to reduce their risk of exposures to carcinogens and to increase their understanding and intentions of behavior towards cancer prevention. One arm will receive an online e-health intervention for six months and the other arm will be considered as a waitlist control group which will be placed on a waitlist and receive the online treatment program some months later. The project aims to evaluate the firefighters by measurement of current behavior, perceived importance, future behavioral intentions and perceived barriers for implementing decontamination behaviors at baseline, after the intervention and after 3-month follow-up before and after the intervention. The intervention consists of three components: 1. a novel health information strategy, 90SecondFire Cancer health letters 2. a brief on-line course 3. a problem-solving asynchronous bulletin board to mobilize existing knowledge

Detailed description

Firefighters face a serious risk of exposure to carcinogens from products of combustion. Modern materials burn hotter and may be even more toxic than older wood construction. Preventing the increased risk of cancer in volunteer firefighters has raised attention as they are more vulnerable to carcinogen exposure. The goal of this two-arm, Cluster Randomized Trial is to evaluate an e-health training program for volunteer firefighters to reduce their risk of exposures to carcinogens and to increase their understanding and intentions of behavior towards cancer prevention. One arm will receive an online e-health intervention for six months and the other arm will be considered as a waitlist control group which will be placed on a waitlist and receive the online treatment program some months later. Up to 800 volunteer firefighters from approximately 40 volunteer fire departments in Canada will be recruited for both arms. The project aims to evaluate the firefighters by measurement of current behavior, perceived importance, future behavioral intentions and perceived barriers for implementing decontamination behaviors at baseline, after the intervention and after 3-month follow-up through an online validated survey: Firefighter Exposure to Carcinogens Scale (FECS). The intervention consists of three components: 1. a novel health information strategy, 90SecondFire Cancer health letters 2. a brief on-line course 3. a problem-solving asynchronous bulletin board to mobilize existing knowledge

Conditions

• Cancer Prevention

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	e-health training program	1. Health letters, 44 issues of 90SecondFire Cancer health letters delivered twice a week during six months to firefighters by text or email 2. A problem-solving asynchronous chat room which encourages mutual support and exchange of ideas via a closed asynchronous bulletin board for peer-to-peer support 3. A brief 45-minute pre-recorded online course; it is intended as a summative exercise rather than providing new information.

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-02-13
• Primary completion: 2024-10-30
• Completion: 2025-06-30
• First posted: 2023-02-27
• Last updated: 2025-01-22

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Canada