Fire fighters from across the United States are participating in a study funded by the National Cancer Institute to identify effective ways to help people lead healthier lives.

The “Promoting Healthy Lifestyles: Alternative Models’ Effects” (PHLAME) study began in 1999 to compare the ability of one-on-one coaching and a peer-led team curriculum to improve fire fighters’ health and lifestyles.

The goals of each method of promoting a healthier lifestyle included eating a healthy diet with more fruits and vegetables and less saturated fat and participating in daily physical activity. In general, both programs resulted in significantly improved lifestyles and quality of life measures, with the team approach slightly outperforming coaching. In addition, the peer-led program resulted in a significant reduction in injuries and health care costs among PHLAME fire bureaus.

Because of its success, the National Cancer Institute agreed to fund the study for five additional years to continue to assess fire fighters. The goal was to learn more about how lifestyles changed and what kept fire fighters motivated to make healthy choices. A second component of PHLAME II is to distribute the team program nationally. The year-long team program is self-contained, and its scripted peer-led format makes it easy for a shift at a station to hold the 12, one-hour sessions including nutrition, exercise and electives selected by the team. Fire fighters completing the team program found it easy to use and enjoyable. One fire chief noted, “We've all changed our habits so much. I know we are a healthier department for it.”

The team program is currently being implemented in Colorado, California, Maryland and southern Oregon. Study coordinators hope to advance the health of fire fighters and use what is learned in the process with other work groups, such as teachers and nurses. The PHLAME research team is from Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, Oregon. For more information on the PHLAME study, visit http://www.phlameprogram.com/.

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