Knowledge and behaviours regarding physical activity of firefighters in the City of Cape Town fire and rescue service – a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Firefighters have a higher prevalence of chronic diseases due to the relationship between a lack of knowledge and poor behaviours regarding physical activity (PA). The aim of the study was to determine the knowledge and behaviours regarding physical activity of firefighters in the City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Service, as well as address the current dearth of literature on physical activity to decrease firefighters’ risk of chronic diseases. This cross-sectional study recruited 136 firefighters in the City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Service. A researcher-generated self-administered questionnaire on the knowledge and behaviours regarding physical activity was completed online using Google Forms. Statistical significance was set at a p-value less than 0.05. The results showed that 53% of firefighters had a poor knowledge of physical activity, and 47% had a good knowledge of physical activity, while 80% reported poor behaviours toward physical activity and 20% had good behaviours toward physical activity. There was a significant difference between firefighters’ knowledge of physical activity and their physical activity behaviour (p < 0.05), particularly related to marital status, age, and years of experience (p < 0.05). A safe environment was significantly associated with recreational PA (p < 0.05) and sleep behaviour was significantly associated with overall PA behaviour (p < 0.001).

Description

Keywords

behaviour, firefighter, knowledge, physical activity, City of Cape Town

Citation

Ras, J., Botha, J., Burger, Y., Ras, W. and Leach, L., 2024. Knowledge and behaviours regarding physical activity of firefighters in the city of cape town fire and rescue service–A cross-sectional study. Physical Activity and Health, 8(1).