The effectiveness of health interventions in cardiovascular risk reduction among emergency service personnel
Purpose: The physical demands and hazards associated with emergency service work place particular stress on responders’ cardiovascular systems. Indeed, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a significant problem for emergency service personnel. Although it may be difficult to alter the cardiovascular heal...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Published: |
Springer
2013
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/45178 |
| _version_ | 1848757211020394496 |
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| author | Wolkow, A. Netto, Kevin Aisbett, B. |
| author_facet | Wolkow, A. Netto, Kevin Aisbett, B. |
| author_sort | Wolkow, A. |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Purpose: The physical demands and hazards associated with emergency service work place particular stress on responders’ cardiovascular systems. Indeed, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a significant problem for emergency service personnel. Although it may be difficult to alter the cardiovascular health hazards associated with the work environment, it is possible for personnel to control their modifiable CVD risk factors, cardiovascular fitness levels and subsequently, reduce their CVD risk. This review aimed to determine the effectiveness and methodological quality of health interventions designed to mitigate CVD risk in emergency service personnel. Methods: A literature search of electronic journal databases was performed. Sixteen relevant studies were assessed for methodological quality using a standardised assessment tool. Data regarding the effectiveness of each intervention were extracted and synthesised in a narrative format. Results: Fifteen studies were rated ‘Weak’ and one study was rated ‘Strong’. Interventions which combined behavioural counselling, exercise and nutrition were more effective in improving cardiovascular health than nutrition, exercise or CVD risk factor assessment-based interventions alone. Further, CVD risk factor assessment in isolation proved to be an ineffective intervention type to reduce CVD risk. Conclusion: Combined interventions appear most effective in improving the cardiovascular health of emergency service personnel. Accordingly, fire and emergency service agencies should consider trialling multifaceted interventions to improve the cardiovascular health of personnel and avoid interventions focused only on one of nutrition, exercise or CVD risk factor assessment. However, as most studies were methodologically weak, further studies of a higher methodological quality are needed. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T09:24:29Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-45178 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T09:24:29Z |
| publishDate | 2013 |
| publisher | Springer |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-451782017-09-13T14:20:15Z The effectiveness of health interventions in cardiovascular risk reduction among emergency service personnel Wolkow, A. Netto, Kevin Aisbett, B. Emergency services Risk factors Occupational health Cardiovascular disease Purpose: The physical demands and hazards associated with emergency service work place particular stress on responders’ cardiovascular systems. Indeed, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a significant problem for emergency service personnel. Although it may be difficult to alter the cardiovascular health hazards associated with the work environment, it is possible for personnel to control their modifiable CVD risk factors, cardiovascular fitness levels and subsequently, reduce their CVD risk. This review aimed to determine the effectiveness and methodological quality of health interventions designed to mitigate CVD risk in emergency service personnel. Methods: A literature search of electronic journal databases was performed. Sixteen relevant studies were assessed for methodological quality using a standardised assessment tool. Data regarding the effectiveness of each intervention were extracted and synthesised in a narrative format. Results: Fifteen studies were rated ‘Weak’ and one study was rated ‘Strong’. Interventions which combined behavioural counselling, exercise and nutrition were more effective in improving cardiovascular health than nutrition, exercise or CVD risk factor assessment-based interventions alone. Further, CVD risk factor assessment in isolation proved to be an ineffective intervention type to reduce CVD risk. Conclusion: Combined interventions appear most effective in improving the cardiovascular health of emergency service personnel. Accordingly, fire and emergency service agencies should consider trialling multifaceted interventions to improve the cardiovascular health of personnel and avoid interventions focused only on one of nutrition, exercise or CVD risk factor assessment. However, as most studies were methodologically weak, further studies of a higher methodological quality are needed. 2013 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/45178 10.1007/s00420-013-0854-0 Springer restricted |
| spellingShingle | Emergency services Risk factors Occupational health Cardiovascular disease Wolkow, A. Netto, Kevin Aisbett, B. The effectiveness of health interventions in cardiovascular risk reduction among emergency service personnel |
| title | The effectiveness of health interventions in cardiovascular risk reduction among emergency service personnel |
| title_full | The effectiveness of health interventions in cardiovascular risk reduction among emergency service personnel |
| title_fullStr | The effectiveness of health interventions in cardiovascular risk reduction among emergency service personnel |
| title_full_unstemmed | The effectiveness of health interventions in cardiovascular risk reduction among emergency service personnel |
| title_short | The effectiveness of health interventions in cardiovascular risk reduction among emergency service personnel |
| title_sort | effectiveness of health interventions in cardiovascular risk reduction among emergency service personnel |
| topic | Emergency services Risk factors Occupational health Cardiovascular disease |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/45178 |