The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #64051

Anne Gadomski, MD, MPH¹, Patrick Burdick, MA¹, Paul Jenkins, PhD¹, Susan Ackerman, BSN², and John J. May, MD². (1) Research Institute, Bassett Healthcare, One Atwell Road, Cooperstown, NY 13326, 6075473169, gadomski@usa.net, (2) New York Center for Agricultural Medicine & Health, One Atwell Road, Cooperstown, NY 13326

Background: The NAGCAT guidelines were specifically designed to prevent childhood agricultural injury by increasing awareness about workplace hazards, the need for supervision and addressing what tasks are appropriate for specific ages. Objective: To evaluate the impact of active dissemination of the NAGCAT guidelines on the incidence of childhood agricultural injury. Methods: 845 farms with children (ages 0-19 years) who live or work on the farm in central New York were randomized to one of two groups. Intervention farms were visited by an educator who reviewed the NAGCAT guidelines with them. Control farms received a farm visit to complete the baseline survey only. Quarterly telephone injury surveillance of the study farms began April 2001 and ends October 2003. Injury incidence density is calculated for each farm by dividing the number of injuries to working or resident children by the total number of 40 hour fulltime equivalents (FTE). Injuries are any condition occurring on the farm that results in at least 4 hours of restricted activity or requires professional medical treatment. Results: For children ages 7 to 16 years, the mean drop in injury density from baseline to follow-up (three quarters to date) was 7.71 to 5.9/ 1000 FTE among intervention farms versus 7.16 to 6.90/1000 FTE in control farms. However the larger drop in the intervention group was not statistically significantly greater than that seen in the controls. Conclusion: Active distribution of NAGCAT guidelines to farms may decrease overall childhood agricultural injury. Subsequent data collection and analysis will confirm this finding.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to:
• 1.Recognize the value of the North American Guidelines for Childhood Agricultural Injury Prevention.
• 2.Evaluate the effect of these guidelines on childhood agricultural injury prevention.
• 3.Identify the importance of randomized field trials in the evaluation of injury prevention programs.

Keywords: Injury Prevention, Agricultural Work Safety

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.