The Development of a Sleep Intervention for Firefighters

The FIT-IN (Firefighter’s Therapy for Insomnia and Nightmares) Study

Bibliographic Data

ID15467207
AuthorsEun Hee Jang (0000-0003-1121-869X, Sungshin Women's University), Yu-Jin Hong (0000-0002-9487-3659, Sungshin Women's University), Yeji Kim (0000-0002-5423-5994, Sungshin Women's University), Sangha Lee (0000-0002-7042-2052, Sungshin Women's University), Yeon‐Soon Ahn (0000-0002-0039-069X, Yonsei University), Yeonsoon Ahn (Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju 26426, Korea), Kyoung Sook Jeong (0000-0002-6897-8289, Wonju Severance Christian Hospital), Tae Won Jang (0000-0003-2624-3257, Hanyang University), Hyejin Lim (0000-0002-2791-8204, Ilsang Psychological Services, IPS, Seoul 05685, Korea), Eun‐Ha Jung (0000-0002-3737-5899), Eunha Jung (Ilsang Psychological Services, IPS, Seoul 05685, Korea), Seockhoon Chung (0000-0002-9798-3642, Ulsan College, corresponding author), Sooyeon Suh (0000-0003-0644-8634, Sungshin Women's University, corresponding author)
Year2020
Volume17
Issue23
Pages8738-8738
Publication date2020-11-24
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph17238738
PMID33255478
OpenAlexW3108511420
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited65

Background : Firefighters are vulnerable to irregular sleep patterns and sleep disturbance due to work characteristics such as shift work and frequent dispatch. However, there are few studies investigating intervention targeting sleep for firefighters. This preliminary study aimed to develop and test a sleep intervention, namely FIT-IN (Firefighter's Therapy for Insomnia and Nightmares), which was based on existing evidence-based treatment tailored to firefighters in consideration of their occupational characteristics. Methods : This study implemented a single-group pre-post study design, utilizing an intervention developed based on brief behavior therapy for insomnia with imagery rehearsal therapy components. FIT-IN consisted of a total of three sessions (two face-to-face group sessions and one telephone session). Participants were recruited from Korean fire stations, and a total of 39 firefighters participated. Participants completed a sleep diary for two weeks, as well as the following questionnaires to assess their sleep and psychological factors: insomnia severity index (ISI), disturbing dream and nightmare severity index (DDNSI), Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), depressive symptom inventory-suicidality subscale (DSI), and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). These questionnaires were administered before the first session and at the end of the second session. Results : The FIT-IN program produced improvements in sleep indices. There was a significant increase in sleep efficiency ( p p p p Conclusion : There were significant improvements in sleep and other clinical indices (depression, PTSD scores) when comparing pre-and post-intervention scores. FIT-IN may be a feasible and practical option in alleviating sleep disturbance in this population. Further studies will be needed to ascertain FIT-IN's effectiveness

Actigraphy · Epworth Sleepiness Scale · Insomnia · Intervention (counseling · Nightmare · Physical therapy · Polysomnography · Psychiatry · Sleep (system call · Sleep diary · Sleep disorder · Sleep onset · Sleep onset latency · Clinical Psychology · Medicine · Occupational Health and Performance · Psychology · Sleep and related disorders · Sleep and Work-Related Fatigue

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