Rural Health Care Providers’ Educational Needs Related to Agricultural Exposures
01 Jan 1997-Journal of agricultural safety and health (American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers)-Vol. 3, Iss: 4, pp 207
TL;DR: The wide spectrum of agricultural diseases and injuries, combined with the changes in health care delivery, underscores the need for rural health care providers to maintain competency in occupational medicine pertaining to agriculture.
Abstract: The wide spectrum of agricultural diseases and injuries, combined with the changes
in health care delivery, underscores the need for rural health care providers to maintain
competency in occupational medicine pertaining to agriculture. Educational needs and
training preferences of rural health care providers were determined through mail survey
research conducted among a random sample of Midwest physicians, physician
assistants, nurses, veterinarians, and chiropractors. Data from 1,237 survey participants
revealed the most common agricultural exposures experienced by their patients/clients
include heavy lifting, environmental dusts or irritants, and hazardous machinery.
Minimal clinical competency was reported for exposures to pesticides, noxious gases,
and volatile organic chemicals. Textbooks and journals were the most commonly used
reference sources of the providers. Family and professional obligations along with cost
and difficulty acquiring practice coverage, were the major barriers to participation in
continuing education programs. Survey results suggest methods to maximize
professional education and training experiences relevant to agricultural exposures.
Citations
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TL;DR: This review focuses upon the emerging respiratory health issues in a changing agricultural economic and technologic environment and environmental and occupational hazards and exposures will be emphasized rather than clinical diagnosis and treatment.
Abstract: Agriculture is considered one of the most hazardous occupations. Organic dusts and toxic gases constitute some of the most common and potentially disabling occupational and environmental hazards. The changing patterns of agriculture have paradoxically contributed to both improved working conditions and increased exposure to respiratory hazards. Animal confinement operations with increasing animal density, particularly swine confinement, have contributed significantly to increased intensity and duration of exposure to indoor air toxins. Ongoing research has implicated bacterial endotoxins, fungal spores, and the inherent toxicity of grain dusts as causes of upper and lower airway inflammation and as immunologic agents in both grain and animal production. Animal confinement gases, particularly ammonia and hydrogen sulfide, have been implicated as additional sources of respiratory irritants. It has become evident that a significant percentage of agricultural workers have clinical symptoms associated with long-term exposure to organic dusts and animal confinement gases. Respiratory diseases and syndromes, including hypersensitivity pneumonitis, organic dust toxic syndrome, chronic bronchitis, mucous membrane inflammation syndrome, and asthmalike syndrome, result from ongoing acute and chronic exposures. In this review we focus upon the emerging respiratory health issues in a changing agricultural economic and technologic environment. Environmental and occupational hazards and exposures will be emphasized rather than clinical diagnosis and treatment. Methods of prevention, from both engineering controls and personal respiratory perspectives, are also addressed.
188 citations
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TL;DR: It is found that childhood nutritional deprivation, serious health problems, and family background predict adult LBFL in Mexico and adjustment for the potential mediators in adulthood attenuates these associations only to a modest degree.
46 citations
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TL;DR: This study reveals that oil palm harvesters suffering acute MSD were likely to be still present to work and produce half lesser than their healthy counterparts, and further study with comprehensive surveillance strategy is essential to determine the urgency or need of appropriate intervention.
Abstract: Production agriculture such as harvesting in oil palm plantation has been frequently associated with MSD and significant loss of productivities. This study tends to evaluate from the viewpoint of health, the association between self-reported prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and productivities; the impact of musculoskeletal disorders on productivity. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 143 harvesters in oil palm plantation. A general questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic background data while Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire was used to determine the prevalence of MSD. Expressed in 4 different indicators; daily harvesting quantity, efficiency score, sick leave and presenteeism, the productivity data were analysed for association. There is significant association between reported acute prevalence of MSD (within 7 d) and productivity loss in terms of presenteeism (χ(2)=5.088; p<0.05) as well as quantity of daily harvest (χ(2)=7.406; p<0.01). Logistic regression adjusted for age, BMI and smoking indicate that harvesters with MSD (past seven days) were more likely to be engaged in presenteeism (OR=2.87 95% CI=1.34, 6.14) and had lower daily productivity (OR=2.09 95% CI=1.02, 4.29) compared to harvesters without MSD (past 7 d). This study reveals that oil palm harvesters suffering acute MSD (for the past week) were likely to be still present to work and produce half lesser than their healthy counterparts. Thus, further study with comprehensive surveillance strategy is essential in order to determine the urgency or need of appropriate intervention.
44 citations
01 Jun 2014
TL;DR: A review of articles was performed by categorizing the selected articles into four approaches as discussed by the authors, namely ergonomic design, ergonomics task analysis, educational and epidemiological concepts, in order to highlight the ergonomic problems in the agriculture industry.
Abstract: A review of articles was performed by categorizing the selected articles into four approaches – ergonomic design, ergonomics task analysis, educational and epidemiological concepts – in order to highlight the ergonomic problems in the agriculture industry. The articles were retrieved from four search engines “PubMed, Scopus, Metapren, and Ebsco” by using specified key words ‘ergonomics’, ‘agricultural workers’, and ‘awkward posture’. The results highlight that ergonomists are capable of providing a safer work environment for the agricultural workers in both developing and developed countries. In addition, the results show that it needs global cooperation of international organizations to enhance the occupational health intervention in agriculture. Furthermore, the efforts of ergonomists to develop a practical ergonomic task analysis for the interventions in agriculture seem significant, as is the necessity for hand tool designs based on ergonomic considerations. Based on the evaluation of articles and related experiences, a recommended model has been introduced to promote health for farmers. This model covers a participatory ergonomic approach to practical ergonomic changes.
41 citations
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TL;DR: A high prevalence of WRMSDs in upper and lower limbs was reported in Iran, and trainings with regard to occupational ergonomics and industrial hygiene programs were recommended for minimizing the work-related risks of musculoskeletal disorders.
Abstract: BACKGROUND:Prevention of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WRMSDs) is crucial as they jeopardize the well-being of the workforce in workplaces and are prevalent in developed and developing countries. OBJECTIVE:This study aimed to determine the prevalence of WRMSDs among Iranian workers. METHODS:A systematic review and meta-analysis of WRMSDs in Iran was performed by searching relevant keywords in authentic databases and search engines such as SID, Google Scholar, Medlib and PubMed. Twenty-seven published articles in the field of WRMSDs from 2001 to 2010 were searched. Meta-analysis and random effects approach were used to analyze data. Heterogeneity investigation of articles was done using I2 index. RESULTS:The total sample size was 6,090 workers with a mean of 225 samples per study. The upper and lower back had the highest prevalence rate of self-reported WRMSDs with 38.1% (95% CI: 29.9–46.4), and 50% (95% CI: 42.5–57.5), respectively. Also, knee had the highest prevalence among lower extremity disorders with 42.1% prevalence rate (95% CI:35.1–49.1). CONCLUSIONS:A high prevalence of WRMSDs in upper and lower limbs was reported in Iran. Trainings with regard to occupational ergonomics and industrial hygiene programs were recommended for minimizing the work-related risks of musculoskeletal disorders.
26 citations
Cites background from "Rural Health Care Providers’ Educat..."
...Each year, more than one million 58 employees experience work related injuries mostly 59 due to repetitive movements, awkward postures and 60 excessive pressure [4]....
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