PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to investigate the posttraumatic growth, a positive mental and psychological change and related factors experienced by firefighters, in order to prevent PTSD and to for use as basic data for mental health promotion. METHODS: This study was a descriptive research study with 186 firefighters working in two fire stations in Busan Metropolitan City. It was conducted from August 1 to 31, 2015. There were 5 research tools in the structured survey, including IES-R-K, Resilience Scale, FACES-III, OCQ, and K-PTGI. Collected data were analyzed with t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple linear regression analysis using SPSS/WIN 18.0. RESULTS: The related factors affecting posttraumatic growth in firefighers were family cohesion (β=.15, p=.044), organizational commitment (β=.61, p<.001), gender (β=.16, p=.023) and amount of work experience in the current field (β=.28, p=.001). The explanatory power of these factors for posttraumatic growth was 43.1%. CONCLUSION: The results indicate a need to develop and distribute intervention programs that focus on strengthening the resilience of individuals, organizational commitment and family cohesion to promote post-traumatic growth, instead of focusing on crisis intervention and follow-up programs after traumatic experiences.
Busan ; Crisis Intervention ; Firefighters* ; Fires ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Mental Health ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to construct and test a structural equation model of posttraumatic growth (PTG) of earthquake victims based on Tedeschi and Calhoun's model (2004). METHODS: Data were collected from 195 earthquake victims living in K. City. The exogenous variables include distress perception, resilience, and social support, and the endogenous variables include intrusive rumination, deliberate rumination, and posttraumatic growth. For data analysis, descriptive statistics, factor analysis, and structural equation modeling were performed. RESULTS: The modified model showed a good fitness to the data. Moreover, 6 of the 9 paths of the final model were statistically significant, which include PTG affected by deliberate rumination (β=.58, p<.001), resilience (γ=.18, p=.001), and distress perception (γ=.20, p=.002). These predictors explain 51.8% of variance in posttraumatic growth. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this study, it is necessary to develop and disseminate preventive intervention programs to increase the resilience of earthquake-prone communities. In addition, after exposure to a community-scale traumatic event such as earthquake, we should provide social supports to alleviate distress perception and transition from intrusive rumination to deliberate rumination so that we can seek new meaning from the earthquake and facilitate posttraumatic growth.
Earthquakes ; Resilience, Psychological ; Statistics as Topic

Purpose: Firefighters belong to an occupational group that is consistently exposed to psychological challenges, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study examines firefighters’ perceptions of psychological intervention programs. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 firefighters who were divided into two focus groups. Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis. Results: Six barriers and seven suggestions regarding psychological intervention programs were identified. The barriers were “work overload”, “uncomfortable counseling situation”, “perfunctory programs”, “lack of consulting specialists”, “limited number of participants”, and “lack of replacement workers while attending the intervention programs”. Suggestions to overcome these barriers included developing “sustainable” and “highly accessible” intervention programs “focused on positive aspects of traumatic events”, considering “job characteristics” and “individual psychosocial characteristics”, as well as employing “experts with knowledge of firefighters’ duties”, and “creating a supportive work environment for psychological intervention”. Conclusion Based on these findings, the interventions should focus on the positive aspects of traumatic events, with flexibility and practicality, tailored to the individual and occupational characteristics of firefighters.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to find core components of psychological intervention for firefighters by integrative literature review. Methods: Whittemore and Knafl’s integrative review methods was used to synthesize the literature. Articles published in Korean and English were identified through seven electronic databases. Nineteen studies were ultimately selected that met the selection criteria for this review. Results: Through in-depth discussion and investigation of the relevant literature, three overarching components emerged: (a) resilience prevention for primary prevention, (b) early crisis intervention for secondary prevention, and (c) tailored recovery intervention for tertiary prevention. Conclusion The three main components found in the results of this study can be important evidence-based data when developing a psychological intervention for firefighters.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to find core components of psychological intervention for firefighters by integrative literature review. Methods: Whittemore and Knafl’s integrative review methods was used to synthesize the literature. Articles published in Korean and English were identified through seven electronic databases. Nineteen studies were ultimately selected that met the selection criteria for this review. Results: Through in-depth discussion and investigation of the relevant literature, three overarching components emerged: (a) resilience prevention for primary prevention, (b) early crisis intervention for secondary prevention, and (c) tailored recovery intervention for tertiary prevention. Conclusion The three main components found in the results of this study can be important evidence-based data when developing a psychological intervention for firefighters.

PURPOSE: Safety of humans is an important factor that affects health overall, and injuries are one of the major public-health problems in the world. The purposes of this study were to describe the International safe Community movement which contributes to the injury prevention and safety promotion all over the world, and to identify out the application and developmental strategies for Korea. METHODS: A review was done of previous research, reviews, and reports on the history, concepts, basic principles, and recommendations for actions of the Safe Community. RESULTS: For this study, the application strategies of the International Safe Community movement in Korea were examined to deduce the strengths of the safe Community program. Community-based injury prevention work according to the International Safe Community model is a successful and cost-effective way of reducing injuries in the community. CONCLUSION: Through the International Safe Community program, communities are able to realize a healthy community and achieve improved quality of lives for the people, which is the ultimate objective of the Safe Community model. In addition, it will contribute to the economic vitalization and gain through energy and enhancement of productivity of people.
Accident Prevention/*economics ; Humans ; International Cooperation ; Models, Theoretical ; *Program Development ; *Program Evaluation ; Quality of Life ; Republic of Korea ; Residence Characteristics