 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Melissa J Perry, ScD, MHS, Occupational Health Program, Harvard School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Avenue, SPH1-1413, Boston, MA 02115, 617-432-4645, mperry@hsph.harvard.edu and Peter Layde, MD, MSc, Wisconsin Injury Research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, 9200 W. Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53226.
Background: In response to the multiple health risks that farm pesticide applicators experience and the need for controlled trials to evaluate prevention programs, this study tested the effects of a small group educational intervention designed to increase personal protective equipment use and decrease direct pesticide exposure. Design: A randomized controlled design was used that included random selection of participants, random assignment to intervention and control groups, and baseline and post-intervention assessments. Setting/participants: 400 Wisconsin dairy farmers certified to apply pesticides to field crops were recruited to participate over a one-year evaluation period. Intervention: Three hour educational sessions were conducted with approximately 100 randomly assigned participants that targeted four educational messages: (1) existing evidence of excess cancers among farmers; (2) simulation of pesticide exposure presented through slide show and description; (3) feedback of self-reported data collected from the farmers reporting on frequency of exposure and gear use; and (4) cognitive behavioral strategies that can be adopted to reduce pesticide hazards. Results: Six-month post intervention analyses showed the educational intervention had significant effects on use of gloves and gear during the most recent application and actual reduction in the total number of pesticides used. However the intervention did not significantly impact achieving full PPE compliance nor in reducing the amount of self-reported dermal pesticide exposure during the most recent application reported by applicators. Conclusions: This one-time educational intervention successfully increased protective equipment use however more intensive programs are needed to achieve greater reductions in personal pesticide exposure.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Pesticide Exposure, 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.