Exploring the association between post–critical incident intervention preferences and self-reported coping self-efficacy among firefighters

Abstract

Critical incident stress debriefing (CISD) is a commonly utilized intervention in the fire service that aims to minimize psychological harm and adverse mental health outcomes after a potentially traumatic incident. This study aimed to explore firefighter preferences regarding CISD and alternative post–critical incident interventions in relation to firefighter coping self-efficacy (FFCSE) and trauma coping self-efficacy (CSE-T). Firefighters (N = 241) completed an online survey and provided complete data. Most participants were White (n = 203, 84.2%), non-Hispanic (n = 221, 91.7%) men (94.2%; n = 227). CISD was the most preferred intervention among firefighters (n = 113, 46.9%) as compared to informal peer support (n = 31, 12.9%), formal one-on-one counseling (n = 29, 12.0%), and no intervention (n = 68, 28.2%). Firefighters who preferred CISD had statistically significant lower levels of FFCSE, R² = .033–.044, ps = .012–.030, and CSE-T, R² = .035–.061 ps = .017–.024, compared to those who preferred no intervention. Firefighters who preferred formal one-on-one counseling had statistically significantly lower levels of FFCSE, R² = .033–.044, ps = .003–.011, and CSE-T, R² = .035–0.061, p < .001–p = .002, compared to those who preferred no intervention. The findings from this study may guide future research to increase knowledge on firefighter intervention preferences and the association between preference and coping self-efficacy.