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Active, Not Recruiting

NCT Number: NCT05745246

Firefighters Preventing Cancer Online Training Program

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

Active, Not Recruiting

This study is active but is not currently recruiting participants.

Key information

Conditions

Cancer Prevention Neoplasms

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

IWK Health Centre

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

About this study

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:

  • a novel health information strategy, 90SecondFire Cancer health letters
  • a brief on-line course
  • a problem-solving asynchronous bulletin board to mobilize existing knowledge

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Departments will be screened to meet the following criteria

  • Be a Volunteer Department
  • Be located in Canada
  • Consent to participate in the study via the Chief or delegate

Participant in the CRT study must meet all the following criteria to be eligible to proceed with the study:

  • Be a volunteer firefighter
  • Working for an all-volunteer fire department that has joined the study
  • Live in Canada
  • Has access to internet
  • Be able to read, write and understand English or French
  • Consent to participate in the study

Exclusion criteria

The exclusion for Departments

  • Not a volunteer Department in other words to be a composite department with some volunteers and some career fire fighters or a department that has not joined the study
  • Not located in Canada
  • Not Consent to be in the study via the Chief or delegate

Any of the following criteria will exclude individuals from proceeding to consent:

  • NOT a volunteer firefighter
  • Working for a composite department with some volunteers and some career fire fighters or a department that has not joined the study
  • Does NOT live in Canada
  • Does not have access to internet
  • Is NOT able to read, write and understand English or French
  • Does NOT consent to participate in the study

Treatment and study plan

e-health training program

Behavioral
  • Health letters, 44 issues of 90SecondFire Cancer health letters delivered twice a week during six months to firefighters by text or email
  • 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
  • A brief 45-minute pre-recorded online course; it is intended as a summative exercise rather than providing new information.

Primary outcomes

  1. Volunteer Firefighters' Intention to engage in reducing exposure and undertaking decontamination behaviour

    Time frame: Baseline, After 6 month intervention and 3-month follow-up

    In order to measure the changes in firefighter's intention during the study, the data will be collected by an online survey: Firefighter Exposure to Carcinogens Scale. The dimensions will be rated on a Likert scale. min :0 Max 4 ; The higher score does not mean a better outcome.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Volunteer Firefighters' practice and perceived importance towards reducing exposure and undertaking decontamination behavior for cancer prevention

    Time frame: Baseline, After 6 month intervention and 3-month follow-up

    The data will be collected by an online survey: Firefighter Exposure to Carcinogens Scale . The dimensions will be rated on a Likert scale. min :0 Max 4 ; The higher score does not mean a better outcome.

  2. Volunteer firefighters' and their departments' perceived barriers in the development of reducing exposure and undertaking decontamination behaviors

    Time frame: Baseline, After 6 month intervention and 3-month follow-up

    The data will be collected by an online survey: Firefighter Exposure to Carcinogens Scale . The dimensions will be rated on a a Likert scale. min :0 Max 4 ; The higher score does not mean a better outcome.

  3. Comparing and detecting any association between the regular volunteer firefighters and the management team towards cancer prevention

    Time frame: Baseline, After 6 month intervention and 3-month follow-up

    The data will be collected by an online survey: Firefighter Exposure to Carcinogens Scale . The dimensions will be rated on a Likert scale. min :0 Max 4 ; The higher score does not mean a better outcome.

  4. Comparing characteristics of different volunteer Departments (Clusters) such as size and location of Department in terms of their future intention, current practice and perceived importance towards cancer prevention

    Time frame: Baseline, After 6 month intervention and 3-month follow-up

    The data will be collected by an online survey: Firefighter Exposure to Carcinogens Scale . The dimensions will be rated on a Likert scale. min :0 Max 4 ; The higher score does not mean a better outcome.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

IWK Health Centre

Other

Collaborators

  • Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs
  • Laval University

Registry information

Official study title

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

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2025
First posted
Feb 27, 2023
Registry last updated
Jan 22, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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