Irene Lidoriki, Bogdan Anđelic, Fan-Yun Lan, Maria Soledad Hershey, Spyridon Georgakopoulos, Kishor Hadkhale, Eleni Speros, Mercedes Sotos-Prieto, Costas A Christophi, Stefanos N Kales
{"title":"Beta and Pilot Testing of the Surviving & Thriving Healthy Lifestyle App: A Countermeasure to Firefighters' Occupational Health Risks.","authors":"Irene Lidoriki, Bogdan Anđelic, Fan-Yun Lan, Maria Soledad Hershey, Spyridon Georgakopoulos, Kishor Hadkhale, Eleni Speros, Mercedes Sotos-Prieto, Costas A Christophi, Stefanos N Kales","doi":"10.3390/toxics13030159","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Firefighters face elevated chronic disease risks, and interventions promoting healthier lifestyles are essential for improving their well-being. This study aimed to beta test and further evaluate a healthy lifestyle app (HLS app) for firefighters.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Beta usability testing was conducted with new firefighters after using the app. Pilot testing was conducted in two cohorts, (1) the Connecticut Fire Academy Class A-CCA after graduation and (2) the Connecticut Class B-CCB and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Academy, during academy training to evaluate the potential efficacy of the HLS app in improving healthy lifestyle behaviors, mental health, and physical fitness over three months of use.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Beta testing (n = 93) revealed positive usability feedback, with 62% finding it useful for their health. Pilot testing after graduation (n = 28) was associated with increased push-up capacity (35.6 ± 11.7 vs. 42.9 ± 16.1, <i>p</i> = 0.006) and improved mental health scores. Pilot testing during academy training (n = 90) was associated with improvements in push-up capacity (33.8 ± 10.8 vs. 41 ± 10.6, <i>p</i> < 0.001), pull-ups (7 [4-11] vs. 10.5 [6-14], <i>p</i> < 0.001), 1.5-mile run time (11.96 ± 1.43 vs. 11.26 ± 1.1, <i>p</i> < 0.001), BMI (26.7 [24.3-29.7] vs. 25.95 [24.0-28.8], <i>p</i> < 0.001), and mental health scores.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The app was well received and showed potential for improving firefighter health. A randomized controlled trial is needed to rigorously evaluate the effectiveness of the HLS app.</p>","PeriodicalId":23195,"journal":{"name":"Toxics","volume":"13 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1000,"publicationDate":"2025-02-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11945949/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Toxics","FirstCategoryId":"93","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13030159","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Firefighters face elevated chronic disease risks, and interventions promoting healthier lifestyles are essential for improving their well-being. This study aimed to beta test and further evaluate a healthy lifestyle app (HLS app) for firefighters.
Methods: Beta usability testing was conducted with new firefighters after using the app. Pilot testing was conducted in two cohorts, (1) the Connecticut Fire Academy Class A-CCA after graduation and (2) the Connecticut Class B-CCB and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Academy, during academy training to evaluate the potential efficacy of the HLS app in improving healthy lifestyle behaviors, mental health, and physical fitness over three months of use.
Results: Beta testing (n = 93) revealed positive usability feedback, with 62% finding it useful for their health. Pilot testing after graduation (n = 28) was associated with increased push-up capacity (35.6 ± 11.7 vs. 42.9 ± 16.1, p = 0.006) and improved mental health scores. Pilot testing during academy training (n = 90) was associated with improvements in push-up capacity (33.8 ± 10.8 vs. 41 ± 10.6, p < 0.001), pull-ups (7 [4-11] vs. 10.5 [6-14], p < 0.001), 1.5-mile run time (11.96 ± 1.43 vs. 11.26 ± 1.1, p < 0.001), BMI (26.7 [24.3-29.7] vs. 25.95 [24.0-28.8], p < 0.001), and mental health scores.
Conclusions: The app was well received and showed potential for improving firefighter health. A randomized controlled trial is needed to rigorously evaluate the effectiveness of the HLS app.
ToxicsChemical Engineering-Chemical Health and Safety
CiteScore
4.50
自引率
10.90%
发文量
681
审稿时长
6 weeks
期刊介绍：
Toxics (ISSN 2305-6304) is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal which provides an advanced forum for studies related to all aspects of toxic chemicals and materials. It publishes reviews, regular research papers, and short communications. Our aim is to encourage scientists to publish their experimental and theoretical results in detail. There is, therefore, no restriction on the maximum length of the papers, although authors should write their papers in a clear and concise way. The full experimental details must be provided so that the results can be reproduced. Electronic files or software regarding the full details of calculations and experimental procedure can be deposited as supplementary material, if it is not possible to publish them along with the text.
京公网安备 11010802042870号
京ICP备2023020795号-1
分享
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
扫码关注我们
