NIOSHTIC-2 Publications Search

Exposure to traumatic incidents and prevalence of posttraumatic stress symptomatology in urban firefighters in two countries.

Corneil W; Beaton R; Johnson C

J Occup Health Psychol 1999 Apr; 4(2):131-141

https://doi.org/10.1037/1076-8998.4.2.131

20024538

Urban firefighters are at risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due in part to their exposure to duty-related trauma. This study compared duty-related trauma exposures and the prevalences of posttraumatic stress in U.S. and Canadian firefighters. Both samples reported relatively numerous and frequent posttrauma symptoms, and the rates of self-reported PTSD prevalence did not differ significantly. However, analysis of departmental records for respondents' previous year on duty revealed significant differences in both frequencies and categories of traumatic incident exposures. Some of the vulnerability and moderating risk factors associated with PTSD caseness differed between the U.S. and Canadian samples. Potential explanations for the observed differences in risk factors for PTSD in these 2 firefighter samples are considered.

Risk factors; Stress; Fire fighters; Fire fighting; Fire hazards; Hazardous materials; Occupational hazards; Sampling; Injuries; Occupational exposure; Paramedical services; Emergency responders; Emergency response; Traumatic injuries; Stress; Humans

Wayne Corneil, Epidemiology and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1H 8M5

JOHPFC

19990401

Journal Article

wayne_corneil@hc-sc.gc.ca

465232

Grant

1999

Grant-Number-R01-OH-003198

2

1076-8998

Journal of Occupational Health Psychology

WA

University of Washington, School of Nursing, Seattle, Washington