Abstract
Introduction:
This study aimed to identify content-valid occupational tasks performed by Brazilian Air Force (BAF) firefighters to support the development of Physical Employment Standards (PES).
Materials and Methods:
A 3-step validation process was applied: (1) scenario development, (2) subject matter expert (SME) judgment, and (3) task quantification. Seven SMEs identified 5 operational scenarios and 33 critical tasks, which were rated based on importance, frequency, and physical demand. Tasks with a Content Validity Index above 0.86 were retained. In the final step, 164 active duty firefighters rated 27 tasks using a Likert scale.
Results:
Tasks involving victim removal and load carriage were rated among the most important and physically demanding, and forest firefighting tasks were the most frequently performed. Inter-rater reliability was high across all domains.
Conclusion:
This systematic approach provides a foundation for future PES development, contributing to improved readiness, safety, and targeted physical training programs for BAF firefighters.
This study aimed to identify content-valid occupational tasks performed by Brazilian Air Force (BAF) firefighters to support the development of Physical Employment Standards (PES).
Materials and Methods:
A 3-step validation process was applied: (1) scenario development, (2) subject matter expert (SME) judgment, and (3) task quantification. Seven SMEs identified 5 operational scenarios and 33 critical tasks, which were rated based on importance, frequency, and physical demand. Tasks with a Content Validity Index above 0.86 were retained. In the final step, 164 active duty firefighters rated 27 tasks using a Likert scale.
Results:
Tasks involving victim removal and load carriage were rated among the most important and physically demanding, and forest firefighting tasks were the most frequently performed. Inter-rater reliability was high across all domains.
Conclusion:
This systematic approach provides a foundation for future PES development, contributing to improved readiness, safety, and targeted physical training programs for BAF firefighters.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | usaf374 |
| Pages (from-to) | 1-7 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Military Medicine: international journal of AMSUS |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 23 Jul 2025 |
