Knowledge and Behaviours Regarding Physical Activity of Firefighters in the City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Service – a Cross-sectional Study
Background: 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 o...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Ubiquity Press
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Physical Activity and Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://account.paahjournal.com/index.php/up-j-pah/article/view/325 |
| _version_ | 1797202780150038528 |
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| author | Jaron Ras Jana Botha Yuwin Burger Warren Ras Lloyd Leach |
| author_facet | Jaron Ras Jana Botha Yuwin Burger Warren Ras Lloyd Leach |
| author_sort | Jaron Ras |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: 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. Design and Methods: 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. Results: 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). Conclusion: Firefighters knowledge about physical activity did not translate into better behaviours regarding PA. Education and behavioural interventions are warranted to increase firefighters’ knowledge of and improving their attitudes toward PA. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T08:08:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-06390ae494b94a2b8722acba1f9c9825 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2515-2270 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T08:08:52Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Ubiquity Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Physical Activity and Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-06390ae494b94a2b8722acba1f9c98252024-04-17T06:57:49ZengUbiquity PressPhysical Activity and Health2515-22702024-03-018147–5947–5910.5334/paah.325325Knowledge and Behaviours Regarding Physical Activity of Firefighters in the City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Service – a Cross-sectional StudyJaron Ras0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7915-4883Jana Botha1Yuwin Burger2Warren Ras3Lloyd Leach4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5861-289XUniversity of the Western Cape; Cape Peninsula University of TechnologyUniversity of the Western CapeUniversity of the Western CapeUniversity of the Western CapeUniversity of the Western CapeBackground: 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. Design and Methods: 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. Results: 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). Conclusion: Firefighters knowledge about physical activity did not translate into better behaviours regarding PA. Education and behavioural interventions are warranted to increase firefighters’ knowledge of and improving their attitudes toward PA.https://account.paahjournal.com/index.php/up-j-pah/article/view/325firefighterknowledgebehaviourphysical activity |
| spellingShingle | Jaron Ras Jana Botha Yuwin Burger Warren Ras Lloyd Leach 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 firefighter knowledge behaviour physical activity |
| title | Knowledge and Behaviours Regarding Physical Activity of Firefighters in the City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Service – a Cross-sectional Study |
| title_full | Knowledge and Behaviours Regarding Physical Activity of Firefighters in the City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Service – a Cross-sectional Study |
| title_fullStr | Knowledge and Behaviours Regarding Physical Activity of Firefighters in the City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Service – a Cross-sectional Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Knowledge and Behaviours Regarding Physical Activity of Firefighters in the City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Service – a Cross-sectional Study |
| title_short | Knowledge and Behaviours Regarding Physical Activity of Firefighters in the City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Service – a Cross-sectional Study |
| title_sort | knowledge and behaviours regarding physical activity of firefighters in the city of cape town fire and rescue service a cross sectional study |
| topic | firefighter knowledge behaviour physical activity |
| url | https://account.paahjournal.com/index.php/up-j-pah/article/view/325 |
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