Current Status of Intervention Studies on Korean Firefighters and Recommendations for Further Research: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Background Firefighters in Korea experience a range of health issues due to the unique demands of their profession and the organizational culture within which they operate. However, to date, there has been a paucity of intervention studies reflecting the specific characteristics of firefighters. Therefore, this scoping review aimed to identify the current status and characteristics of intervention studies on firefighters in Korea and to make recommendations for further research. Methods The review was conducted in seven stages, in accordance with the methodological guidelines for scoping reviews framed by the Joanna Briggs Institute. For reporting, we adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews checklist. The literature search included articles published in Korean and international journals till January 25, 2024. Data were extracted according to a previously developed analysis framework and the Template for Intervention Description and Replication checklist. The protocol for this study was registered with the Open Science Framework and can be accessed via the following link: https://osf.io/s378j/. Results A total of 35 articles were included in the review. The analysis revealed an imbalance in terms of research topics, design, outcome variables, and delivery format of interventions in the design and content of the reviewed studies. In terms of research ethics, researchers must ensure that the rules and guidelines regarding bioethics are followed. The review also highlighted a lack of research that reflected the characteristics and needs of firefighting organizations. Conclusions Future research must include various intervention studies on firefighters’ health problems and implement sensitive research designs that consider research ethics. It is also important to listen to the needs of firefighting organizations and collaborate with experts with firefighting knowledge to create flexible research designs that can accommodate the characteristics of individual firefighters and organizations.