Are firefighters susceptible to decision fatigue? An exploratory sequential mixed methods study of its causes and consequences

Decision fatigue undermines the quality and effectiveness of decision-making in the challenging and life-threatening environments of firefighting. This study employed an exploratory sequential design to qualitatively identify the causes and consequences of decision fatigue in firefighting and quantify the severity of the consequences of each cause. Retrospective interviews were conducted with 19 firefighters, followed by a survey with 329 firefighters. Qualitative analysis, employing an emergent themes approach, identified 39 sub-causes and 20 sub-consequences of decision fatigue, which were eventually grouped into eight causes and five consequences. The quantitative analysis phase included univariate and multivariate regression analyses to determine significant predictors among the 39 causes, perceived stress, and occupational fatigue on the total consequence of decision fatigue. Overall, the study's findings underscore the significance of investigating fatigue in firefighting and provide the groundwork for developing training programs and coping strategies to mitigate it and improve operational efficiency.