This study was performed to investigate the factors related to HRQOL, and a correlation between occupational stress and HRQOL among municipal fire officers.

In November 2005, 341 male municipal fire officers submitted to the following tests: A general questionnaire, a medical questionnaire, the Korean Occupational Stress Scale Short Form(KOSSSF), and the SmithKline Beecham quality of life scale (SBQOL).

Back pain (OR=3.54, 95% C.I.=1.81–6.93) and occupational stress (OR=6.33, 95% C.I.=3.12–12.83) were significantly related to poor HRQOL scores among municipal fire officers, and there is negative relationship between KOSS-SF score and SBQOL score. Logistic regression analysis indicated that the medium occupational stress group (OR=2.21, 95% C.I.=1.04–4.71) and the high occupational stress group (OR=6.33, 95% C.I.=3.12–12.83) were more significantly associated with poor HRQOL than low occupational stress group.

Among municipal fire officers, back pain and occupational stress were found to be related to their HRQOL. Based on this study, we suggest that the management of back pain and occupational stress are instrumental to improving the HRQOL among municipal fire officers.