Emergency responders and health behaviors related to personal protective equipment

Reports from the recovery effort at the World Trade Center (WTC) site as well as anecdotal experiences, suggest that compliance with personal protective standards is extremely variable among emergency responders. There are no known studies investigating attitudes towards the use of respiratory protective equipment among emergency responders. However, constructs of the Theory of Planned Behavior have been used to successfully predict protective equipment use amongst pesticide applicators and nurses. In an effort to better understand the factors that influence compliance with personal protection standards among emergency responders, the University at Albany School of Public Health, Center for Public Health Preparedness developed a survey testing the constructs of the Theory of Planned Behavior as predictors of behavioral intention to wear protective gear. Information about demographics, knowledge, and experiences were also included in the survey in order to ascertain if any of those factors influence behavior The surveys are currently being distributed to 500 firefighters, paramedics, and EMT's in New York State. The principal investigator collects the survey data by visiting workplaces in the state on randomly assigned days. No individually identifiable data is collected. Analysis of the results will include statistical examination of the model constructs and their relationship to the outcome variable. Conclusions will be focused on identifying weaknesses in emergency responder training and improving overall compliance with personal protective standards.