Department of Health and Caring Science, Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden
Research School for Doctoral Students within the Swedish Rescue Services, The Swedish Fire Research Foundation, Stockholm, Sweden.
BMJ Open. 2024 Sep 5;14(9):e086170. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-086170.
The purpose of this study was to describe the experiences and actions of part-time firefighters' family members in rural areas in Sweden.
The study had an inductive descriptive design and used the critical incident technique.
Rural areas, primarily served by a part-time fire station, across Sweden.
The study included 25 participants (21 females and 4 males) with experiences of being a family member of a part-time firefighter. Family members who themselves served as firefighters were excluded.
Being a part-time firefighter's family member was described into three main areas of experiences: 'affecting everyday life', 'dealing with uncertainty' and 'being in this together'. Actions taken were divided into two main areas: 'pursuing adaptations' and 'alleviating difficulties'.
Family members of part-time firefighters faced increased responsibility at home, managing personal inconvenience and frustration. They offered emotional support for the firefighter, however, expressing a need for guidance on handling firefighters' emotions and mental health after call-outs. Despite their crucial role, they often felt unrecognised by the fire and rescue service. Nonetheless, they took pride in their firefighter's contribution to the community and noted positive impacts on the family.
本研究旨在描述瑞典农村地区兼职消防员家属的经历和行为。
本研究采用归纳描述性设计，并使用关键事件技术。
瑞典各地主要由兼职消防站服务的农村地区。
本研究包括 25 名参与者（21 名女性和 4 名男性），他们有作为兼职消防员家属的经验。排除了本身担任消防员的家属。
作为兼职消防员的家属，被描述为三个主要的体验领域：“影响日常生活”、“应对不确定性”和“共同面对”。所采取的行动分为两个主要领域：“追求适应”和“减轻困难”。
兼职消防员的家属在家中承担了更多的责任，应对个人的不便和挫折。他们为消防员提供情感支持，但表示需要指导如何处理消防员在出勤后的情绪和心理健康问题。尽管他们扮演着至关重要的角色，但他们常常感到没有得到消防和救援服务的认可。然而，他们为消防员对社区的贡献感到自豪，并注意到对家庭的积极影响。
