Citation

Kuehl KS, Kisbu-Sakarya Y, Elliot DL, Moe EL, Defrancesco CA, Mackinnon DP, Lockhart G, Goldberg L, Kuehl HE. J. Occup. Environ. Med. 2012; 54(5): 579-582.

Affiliation

Division of Health Promotion and Sports Medicine, Department of Medicine (Drs Kuehl, Elliot, Moe, and Goldberg, Ms DeFrancesco, and Ms Kuehl), Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Ore; and Division of Quantitative Psychology (Ms Kisbu-Sakarya and Drs MacKinnon and Lockhart), Arizona State University, Tempe, Ariz.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/JOM.0b013e318249202d

PMID

22569476

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: : To determine the relationship between lifestyle variables including body mass index and filing a workers' compensation claim due to firefighter injury. METHODS: : A cross-sectional evaluation of firefighter injury related to workers" compensation claims occurring 5 years after the original Promoting Healthy Lifestyles: Alternative Models' Effects study intervention. RESULTS: : A logistic regression analysis for variables predicting filing a workers' compensation claim due to an injury was performed with a total of 433 participants. The odds of filing a compensation claim were almost 3 times higher for firefighters with a body mass index of more than 30 kg/m than firefighters with a normal body mass index (odds ratio, 2.89; P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: : This study addresses a high-priority area of reducing firefighter injuries and workers' compensation claims. Maintaining a healthy body weight is important to reduce injury and workers' compensation claims among firefighters.

Language: en