Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41661488›Full record

ArticleJournal of occupational rehabilitation2026

Experiences in Treatment, Recovery, and Return-to-Work Following an Acute Cardiac Event Among Firefighters: A Descriptive Thematic Analysis of Firefighter Experiences.

Sara M Stretton, Joy C MacDermid, Joline W Attalla, Renee MacPhee, David M Walton

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Journal of occupational rehabilitation, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Sara M StrettonFaculty of Health Sciences, Western University, London, ON, Canada. sstretto@uwo.ca.
Joy C MacDermidFaculty of Health Sciences, Western University, London, ON, Canada.
Joline W AttallaFaculty of Health Sciences, Western University, London, ON, Canada.
Renee MacPheeFaculty of Health Sciences, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON, Canada.
David M WaltonFaculty of Health Sciences, Western University, London, ON, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHeart disease is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide and includes any disease affecting the heart or blood vessels. Stress has been widely cited as a potential factor in the development of heart disease and acute cardiac events. Firefighters may be at a higher risk of developing heart disease and experiencing an acute cardiac event due to the high mental and physical demands of the job. There is limited literature on treatment, recovery, and how to successfully return to this high-stress work environment. This study explored the recovery, treatment, and return-to-work (RTW) process following acute cardiac events experienced by firefighters, with a specific focus on psychological stress and mental health.

methodsWe recruited nine firefighters who had an acute cardiac event during their career. Firefighters participated in a semi-structured interview with a critical theory paradigm that explored their experience during treatment, recovery, and RTW. Data were analyzed in a two-reviewer process using thematic analysis.

resultsThematic analysis revealed four major themes: (1) there is a lack of consideration of what it means to be a firefighter during treatment and recovery; (2) mental health difficulties are overlooked and a major barrier to recovery and RTW; (3) mental and physical illness stigma within the fire organization impedes a successful recovery and RTW; and (4) social support is critical to a successful recovery and RTW.

conclusionThe results of this study highlighted a pressing need for formalized fire-specific treatment, recovery, and return-to-work processes to ensure a successful return.

Indexed as

Acute cardiac eventCardiac rehabilitationFirefighterMental healthReturn-to-work

Identifiers

PMID41661488

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.