Cancer PreventionNCT05745246
Firefighters Preventing Cancer Online Training Program
A study testing e-health training program in people with Cancer Prevention, run by IWK Health Centre at 1 site in Canada.
Trial summary
The goal of this two-arm, Cluster Randomized Trial is to evaluate an e-health training program for volunteer firefighters to reduce their risk of exposures to carcinogens and to increase their understanding and intentions of behavior towards cancer prevention. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Any age
- Conditions the study is for
- Cancer Prevention
- What is being tested?
- e-health training program
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 179 participants
- Where
- 1 siteCanada
- Study dates
- 13 Feb 2023to 30 Jun 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages Any age
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Departments will be screened to meet the following criteria
- Be a Volunteer Department
- Be located in Canada
- Consent to participate in the study via the Chief or delegate
- Participant in the CRT study must meet all the following criteria to be eligible to proceed with the study:
- Be a volunteer firefighter
Show all 11Show fewer
- Working for an all-volunteer fire department that has joined the study
- Live in Canada
- Has access to internet
- Be able to read, write and understand English or French
- Consent to participate in the study
Who cannot join
- The exclusion for Departments
- Not a volunteer Department in other words to be a composite department with some volunteers and some career fire fighters or a department that has not joined the study
- Not located in Canada
- Not Consent to be in the study via the Chief or delegate
- Any of the following criteria will exclude individuals from proceeding to consent:
- NOT a volunteer firefighter
Show all 11Show fewer
- Working for a composite department with some volunteers and some career fire fighters or a department that has not joined the study
- Does NOT live in Canada
- Does not have access to internet
- Is NOT able to read, write and understand English or French
- Does NOT consent to participate in the study
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Firefighters Preventing Cancer: Cluster Randomized Trial of an Online Training Program for Cancer Prevention Behaviors in Volunteer Firefighters
The goal of this two-arm, Cluster Randomized Trial is to evaluate an e-health training program for volunteer firefighters to reduce their risk of exposures to carcinogens and to increase their understanding and intentions of behavior towards cancer prevention. One arm will receive an online e-health intervention for six months and the other arm will be considered as a waitlist control group which will be placed on a waitlist and receive the online treatment program some months later.
The project aims to evaluate the firefighters by measurement of current behavior, perceived importance, future behavioral intentions and perceived barriers for implementing decontamination behaviors at baseline, after the intervention and after 3-month follow-up before and after the intervention.
Read more
The intervention consists of three components:
- a novel health information strategy, 90SecondFire Cancer health letters
- a brief on-line course
- a problem-solving asynchronous bulletin board to mobilize existing knowledge
Read the detailed description
Firefighters face a serious risk of exposure to carcinogens from products of combustion. Modern materials burn hotter and may be even more toxic than older wood construction. Preventing the increased risk of cancer in volunteer firefighters has raised attention as they are more vulnerable to carcinogen exposure.
The goal of this two-arm, Cluster Randomized Trial is to evaluate an e-health training program for volunteer firefighters to reduce their risk of exposures to carcinogens and to increase their understanding and intentions of behavior towards cancer prevention. One arm will receive an online e-health intervention for six months and the other arm will be considered as a waitlist control group which will be placed on a waitlist and receive the online treatment program some months later. Up to 800 volunteer firefighters from approximately 40 volunteer fire departments in Canada will be recruited for both arms.
The project aims to evaluate the firefighters by measurement of current behavior, perceived importance, future behavioral intentions and perceived barriers for implementing decontamination behaviors at baseline, after the intervention and after 3-month follow-up through an online validated survey: Firefighter Exposure to Carcinogens Scale (FECS).
The intervention consists of three components:
- a novel health information strategy, 90SecondFire Cancer health letters
- a brief on-line course
- a problem-solving asynchronous bulletin board to mobilize existing knowledge
- Conditions
- Cancer Prevention
- Being tested
- e-health training program
- Keywords
- Firefighter, Cancer, Decontamination, Exposure
- Medical subject headings
- Neoplasms
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
e-health training programBehavioural
- Health letters, 44 issues of 90SecondFire Cancer health letters delivered twice a week during six months to firefighters by text or email
- A problem-solving asynchronous chat room which encourages mutual support and exchange of ideas via a closed asynchronous bulletin board for peer-to-peer support
- A brief 45-minute pre-recorded online course; it is intended as a summative exercise rather than providing new information.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention Group | Experimental | This arm will receive the online e-health intervention for six months.
The intervention consists of three sections:
1. a novel health information strategy, 90SecondFire Cancer health letters
2. a brief on-line course
3. a problem-solving asynchronous bulletin board to mobilize existing knowledge Receives: Behavioral: e-health training program |
| waitlist control group | No intervention | This group will be placed on a waitlist and will receive the online treatment program after six months. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Volunteer Firefighters' Intention to engage in reducing exposure and undertaking decontamination behaviour
In order to measure the changes in firefighter's intention during the study, the data will be collected by an online survey: Firefighter Exposure to Carcinogens Scale. The dimensions will be rated on a Likert scale. min :0 Max 4 ; The higher score does not mean a better outcome.
Measured: Baseline, After 6 month intervention and 3-month follow-up
Secondary outcomes (4)
Volunteer Firefighters' practice and perceived importance towards reducing exposure and undertaking decontamination behavior for cancer prevention
The data will be collected by an online survey: Firefighter Exposure to Carcinogens Scale . The dimensions will be rated on a Likert scale. min :0 Max 4 ; The higher score does not mean a better outcome.
Measured: Baseline, After 6 month intervention and 3-month follow-up
Volunteer firefighters' and their departments' perceived barriers in the development of reducing exposure and undertaking decontamination behaviors
The data will be collected by an online survey: Firefighter Exposure to Carcinogens Scale . The dimensions will be rated on a a Likert scale. min :0 Max 4 ; The higher score does not mean a better outcome.
Measured: Baseline, After 6 month intervention and 3-month follow-up
Comparing and detecting any association between the regular volunteer firefighters and the management team towards cancer prevention
The data will be collected by an online survey: Firefighter Exposure to Carcinogens Scale . The dimensions will be rated on a Likert scale. min :0 Max 4 ; The higher score does not mean a better outcome.
Measured: Baseline, After 6 month intervention and 3-month follow-up
Comparing characteristics of different volunteer Departments (Clusters) such as size and location of Department in terms of their future intention, current practice and perceived importance towards cancer prevention
The data will be collected by an online survey: Firefighter Exposure to Carcinogens Scale . The dimensions will be rated on a Likert scale. min :0 Max 4 ; The higher score does not mean a better outcome.
Measured: Baseline, After 6 month intervention and 3-month follow-up
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted27 Feb 2023
- Study start13 Feb 2023
- Primary completion30 Oct 2024
- Study completion30 Jun 2025 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Cancer PreventionStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- This study is a two-arm, feasibility, Cluster Randomized Trial (CRT).
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 179 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- IWK Health Centre
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs, Laval University
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Patrick J. McGrath, IWK Health Centre
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05745246
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 1028192
- Status last verified
- Jan 2025
- First submitted
- 16 Feb 2023
- Last updated
- 22 Jan 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 22 Jan 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Firefighters Preventing Cancer: Cluster Randomized Trial of an Online Training Program for Cancer Prevention Behaviors in Volunteer Firefighters
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05745246
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 1028192
- Conditions
- Cancer Prevention
- Keywords
- Firefighter, Cancer, Decontamination, Exposure
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 179 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- IWK Health CentreUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs, Laval University
- Study start
- 13 Feb 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Oct 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Jun 2025 (estimated)
- First posted
- 27 Feb 2023 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The goal of this two-arm, Cluster Randomized Trial is to evaluate an e-health training program for volunteer firefighters to reduce their risk of exposures to carcinogens and to increase their understanding and intentions of behavior towards cancer prevention. One arm will receive an online e-health intervention for six months and the other arm will be considered as a waitlist control group which will be placed on a waitlist and receive the online treatment program some months later.
The project aims to evaluate the firefighters by measurement of current behavior, perceived importance, future behavioral intentions and perceived barriers for implementing decontamination behaviors at baseline, after the intervention and after 3-month follow-up before and after the intervention.
The intervention consists of three components:
- a novel health information strategy, 90SecondFire Cancer health letters
- a brief on-line course
- a problem-solving asynchronous bulletin board to mobilize existing knowledge
Detailed description
Firefighters face a serious risk of exposure to carcinogens from products of combustion. Modern materials burn hotter and may be even more toxic than older wood construction. Preventing the increased risk of cancer in volunteer firefighters has raised attention as they are more vulnerable to carcinogen exposure.
The goal of this two-arm, Cluster Randomized Trial is to evaluate an e-health training program for volunteer firefighters to reduce their risk of exposures to carcinogens and to increase their understanding and intentions of behavior towards cancer prevention. One arm will receive an online e-health intervention for six months and the other arm will be considered as a waitlist control group which will be placed on a waitlist and receive the online treatment program some months later. Up to 800 volunteer firefighters from approximately 40 volunteer fire departments in Canada will be recruited for both arms.
The project aims to evaluate the firefighters by measurement of current behavior, perceived importance, future behavioral intentions and perceived barriers for implementing decontamination behaviors at baseline, after the intervention and after 3-month follow-up through an online validated survey: Firefighter Exposure to Carcinogens Scale (FECS).
The intervention consists of three components:
- a novel health information strategy, 90SecondFire Cancer health letters
- a brief on-line course
- a problem-solving asynchronous bulletin board to mobilize existing knowledge
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- This study is a two-arm, feasibility, Cluster Randomized Trial (CRT).
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention Group | Experimental | Behavioral: e-health training programThis arm will receive the online e-health intervention for six months. The intervention consists of three sections: 1. a novel health information strategy, 90SecondFire Cancer health letters 2. a brief on-line course 3. a problem-solving asynchronous bulletin board to mobilize existing knowledge |
| waitlist control group | No intervention | –This group will be placed on a waitlist and will receive the online treatment program after six months. |
Who may qualify
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (11 listed)
- Departments will be screened to meet the following criteria
- Be a Volunteer Department
- Be located in Canada
- Consent to participate in the study via the Chief or delegate
- Participant in the CRT study must meet all the following criteria to be eligible to proceed with the study:
Key exclusion criteria (11 listed)
- The exclusion for Departments
- Not a volunteer Department in other words to be a composite department with some volunteers and some career fire fighters or a department that has not joined the study
- Not located in Canada
- Not Consent to be in the study via the Chief or delegate
- NOT a volunteer firefighter
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| e-health training program1. Health letters, 44 issues of 90SecondFire Cancer health letters delivered twice a week during six months to firefighters by text or email 2. A problem-solving asynchronous chat room which encourages mutual support and exchange of ideas via a closed asynchronous bulletin board for peer-to-peer support 3. A brief 45-minute pre-recorded online course; it is intended as a summative exercise rather than providing new information. | Behavioural | Intervention Group |
Primary outcome
Volunteer Firefighters' Intention to engage in reducing exposure and undertaking decontamination behaviour
Time frame: Baseline, After 6 month intervention and 3-month follow-up
In order to measure the changes in firefighter's intention during the study, the data will be collected by an online survey: Firefighter Exposure to Carcinogens Scale. The dimensions will be rated on a Likert scale. min :0 Max 4 ; The higher score does not mean a better outcome.
4 secondary outcomes
Volunteer Firefighters' practice and perceived importance towards reducing exposure and undertaking decontamination behavior for cancer prevention
Time frame: Baseline, After 6 month intervention and 3-month follow-up
Volunteer firefighters' and their departments' perceived barriers in the development of reducing exposure and undertaking decontamination behaviors
Time frame: Baseline, After 6 month intervention and 3-month follow-up
Comparing and detecting any association between the regular volunteer firefighters and the management team towards cancer prevention
Time frame: Baseline, After 6 month intervention and 3-month follow-up
Comparing characteristics of different volunteer Departments (Clusters) such as size and location of Department in terms of their future intention, current practice and perceived importance towards cancer prevention
Time frame: Baseline, After 6 month intervention and 3-month follow-up
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 22 Jan 2025.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing e-health training program in people with Cancer Prevention, run by IWK Health Centre at 1 site in Canada.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 11 inclusion and 11 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 22 Jan 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Canada. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Volunteer Firefighters' Intention to engage in reducing exposure and undertaking decontamination behaviour (time frame: Baseline, After 6 month intervention and 3-month follow-up). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 22 Jan 2025.