Respiratory Symptoms and Quality of Life in First Responders to the 2021 Forest Fires in Turkey: A Cross-Sectional Sri-Based Study

Year 2025, Volume: 32 Issue: 4, 265 - 281, 01.12.2025

Tayfun Başer , Mustafa Saygın

https://doi.org/10.17343/sdutfd.1619333

Abstract

Objectives: This analytical cross-sectional study aimed to investigate respiratory complaints and their associated quality of life among fire response teams following the major forest fires that occurred in the Mediterranean and Aegean regions of Turkey in August 2021. The study utilized the Severe Respiratory Insufficiency (SRI) questionnaire, a valid tool for illuminating the effects of acute smoke exposure on respiratory health and for identifying key socio-demographic factors that affect quality of life in this at-risk population.
Material and Method: Data for this analytical cross-sectional study were collected using a convenience sampling method from 83 participants who responded to the August 2021 fires. A total of 148 individuals were invited, and 83 were included in the study. The data collection tool included demographic questions and the 49-item SRI questionnaire. Due to the non-normal data distribution, inter-group analyses were performed using the Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis H tests, with effect sizes and 95% Confidence Intervals (95% CI) reported. The level of statistical significance was set at (p<0.05).
Results: Analysis revealed that participants in the 18-24 age group reported a higher quality of life compared to other age groups. Conversely, a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) indicated that the 45-65 age group experienced a poorer quality of life when compared to other demographics. Alcohol consumption was found to directly impact quality of life; a significant difference (p < 0.05) was observed in quality of life between participants who abstained from alcohol and those who consumed alcohol once a week. Furthermore, individuals without substance addiction exhibited higher scores, indicating better quality of life, with a significant difference (p < 0.05) noted when compared to those with substance addiction.
Conclusion: Key factors influencing the respiratory complaints and overall quality of life among individuals directly exposed to forest fires include age, alcohol use, substance addiction, education level, and engagement in sports activities.

Keywords

Air pollution , Forest fire , Insufficiency , Respiratory , Quality of life

Ethical Statement

The study in question was carried out with the decision numbered 10 and dated 10.11.2021 of the Suleyman Demirel University Health Sciences Ethics Committee.

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