title: Firefighter fitness, coronary heart disease, and sudden cardiac death risk.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the roles physical fitness, coronary heart disease, and sudden cardiac death risk play in firefighter culture, via an emic (insider's) perspective within the culture of the fire service.
  
  
  METHODS
  Key informant interviews and focus group discussions with full-time, acculturated firefighters, framed within a social ecological framework.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Physical fitness is a complex, cultural construct, based on functional capacity and management normative expectations. Coronary heart disease is not a culturally relevant reason for workplace fitness program adherence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fitness interventions must culturally adapt to the unique nature of the fire service, emphasizing functional capacity, crew dependability, and fitness/well-being strategies.
authors: Department of Health Policy and Management, College of Public Health, Kent State University, OH, USA. jstaley1@kent.edu
authors: John A
authors: JA
authors: Staley
authors: Bryan
authors: B
authors: Weiner
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Linnan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D061388:Firefighters / Q000523:psychology*; D017144:Focus Groups; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors