Perceived utility and limits of psychological interviews among French physicians and firefighter divers.

* Prevention of hazards is a constant preoccupation for the doctors and nurses who are in charge of ensuring, at first during the medical fitness visit (MFV), that the members of the professional firefighters are medically and psychologically fit, followed by a regular control, in particular of those carrying out specialised activities (mountaineering, scuba-diving, CBRN risks). In France, the medical conditions of the firemen's fitness who are carrying out specialized activities are statutorily set by Annex II of the Decree of 6 May 2000, recently modified on 17 January 2013 [1–3]. In addition to a certain number of specific clinical and paraclinical examinations, the firemen who carry out sub-aquatic activities have to undergo, among other things, a psychological interview during their MFV (initial evaluation during the recruitment and then every 4 years). It is now well established that the risk of a diving accident is increased depending on the psychological state and profile of the diver [4, 5]. This is why the legislator has highlighted the importance of evaluating the psychological state of the diving firemen when recruited, but also in the course of their professional career. Using first an online questionnaire for the different French Departmental Fire and Rescue Department (SDIS) and secondly a written questionnaire for the Department of Vaucluse (South of France), we wanted to know the current practices, the expectations and psychological difficulties faced by the firefighter divers during their MFV and then further on during their professional career. Out of those 42 French SDIS who answered (42/99 SDIS), 39 (97%) have divers. Among them, 10 (26%) underwent the psychological interview during the initial MFV and 8 (21%) during the following MFVs. In those cases , initial interview was undertaken by a psychologist in 10 (56%) cases, or by a non-specialised doctor (44%). The subsequent interviews are also performed mainly by a psychologist (65%), or by a non-specialised doctor (35%). If a particular psychological problem is mentioned by one of the divers or reported by his management, it is possible to have access to a psychological interview in 100% of the 39 SDIS with divers. Finally, concerning the question about the usefulness of psychological interviews, 19 (49%) physicians think those interviews are useful, 16 (41%) do not exclude to have recourse to them 1 day and 3 (8%) do not think they are of any use. With regard to the SDIS of Vaucluse, we were able …