Firefighters' Health Knowledge, Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors, and Sociodemographic Characteristics as Predictors of Firefighters Attitudes Toward Health.

Abstract

The aim of the study is to determine the predictors of firefighters' attitudes toward health based on firefighters' knowledge cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and sociodemographic characteristics. The study used a web-based cross-sectional, descriptive, and correlational research design. Convenience sampling was used to recruit 110 firefighters, males, and females, aged 18 to 65 years. Firefighters' health knowledge, age group 30 to 39 years, and having CVD risk factors present were significant predictors of firefighters' attitudes toward regular aerobic exercise ( P < 0.05). Firefighters' health knowledge was a significant predictor of firefighters liking exercise to look physically fit, and health knowledge and the age group 20 to 29 and 30 to 39 years were significant predictors of firefighters liking exercise to be fit for firefighting ( P < 0.05). Health knowledge, age group, years of experience, and having CVD risk factors present were significant predictors of firefighters' attitudes toward health.