Deep learning models can predict violence and threats against healthcare providers using clinical notes.

Violence, verbal abuse, threats, and sexual harassment of healthcare providers by patients is a major challenge for healthcare organizations around the world, contributing to staff turnover, distress, absenteeism, reduced job satisfaction, and worsening mental and physical health. To enable interventions prior to possible violent episodes, we trained two deep learning models to predict violence against healthcare workers 3 days prior to violent events for case and control patients. The first model is a document classification model using clinical notes, and the second is a baseline regression model using largely structured data.

Firefighter- and Fire Department-Level Barriers and Promoters of Physical Activity and Fitness Among Volunteer Firefighters: A Qualitative Study Using Semistructured Interviews.

Objective: To describe volunteer firefighters' perspectives on how firefighter- and fire department-level factors influence their physical activity and fitness.

Methods: Firefighters (n = 28) were interviewed, stratified by their years of firefighting, using an interview guide. Thematic analysis and systematic coding were used to analyze the interview transcripts.

Prevalence and predictors of colon and prostate cancer screening among volunteer firefighters: The United States Firefighter Cancer Assessment and Prevention Study.

Background: Although firefighters have increased risk for colon and prostate cancer, limited information exists on screening practices for these cancers in volunteer firefighters who compose two-thirds of the US fire service. We estimated the prevalence of colon and prostate cancer screening among volunteer firefighters using eligibility criteria from 4 evidence-based screening recommendations and evaluated factors influencing screening.

Methods: We evaluated colon (n = 569) and prostate (n = 498) cancer screening prevalence in a sample of US volunteer firefighters using eligibility criteria from the US Preventive Services Taskforce (USPSTF), National Fire Protection Association, American Cancer Society, and National Comprehensive Cancer Network.

Prevalence and predictors of skin cancer screening among a sample of US volunteer firefighters.

Background: Firefighters have a higher risk of melanoma incidence and mortality compared to the general population. In the United States (US), the National Fire Protection Association recommends all firefighters receive annual skin cancer screening through visual skin examination by a clinician. However, there is limited information on skin cancer screening practices among volunteer firefighters who comprise two-thirds of the US fire service.

Prevalence and Predictors of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Serum Levels among Members of a Suburban US Volunteer Fire Department.

Background: Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are ubiquitous pollutants associated with adverse health outcomes. High PFAS levels have been demonstrated among career firefighters; less is known about PFAS levels among volunteer firefighters who comprise two-thirds of US firefighters.

Methods: Volunteer fire department members completed a survey and provided blood samples.

Perceived Health Risks Among Firefighters; The New Jersey Firefighter Health Survey.

Objective: There is a growing literature on the risk of chronic disease among firefighters, including cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer. However there is little information on firefighter's perception thereof.

Methods: Firefighters attending a union convention in New Jersey completed a survey with four domains: firefighting experience; perceived additional risk for chronic diseases (six-point Likert scale); cancer screening history; demographics, and risk behaviors.

Retrospective Assessment of Risk Factors for Head and Neck Cancer Among World Trade Center General Responders.

To assess the reliability of a questionnaire designed to reconstruct risk factors for head and neck cancer relative to the 9/11 World Trade Center (WTC) response and over the lifetime. As part of a nested case-control study, 200 WTC Health Program (WTCHP) General Responder Cohort (GRC) members completed a newly-developed study questionnaire telephone (with a trained interviewer) or online (self-administered). We assessed agreement between measures of tobacco and alcohol use in our questionnaire results and data collected previously during WTCHP-GRC monitoring visits using Cohens Kappa (κ) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for categorical and continuous measures, respectively.

Risk factors for head and neck cancer in the World Trade Center Health Program General Responder Cohort: results from a nested case-control study.

Objectives: Head and neck cancers (HNCs) may be among the health consequences of involvement in the World Trade Center (WTC) response on and after 11 September 2001. We conducted a nested case-control study of WTC Health Program (WTCHP) general responders to examine the effects of WTC exposures and behavioural risk factors on HNC.

Methods: We enrolled 64 cases and 136 controls, matched on age, sex and race/ethnicity within risk sets.