142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

Home Events & Meetings Annual Meeting Schedule & Program

Online Program

Annual Meeting Recordings are now available for purchase

304899
All that we herd: Using qualitative methods to understand language, barriers, and challenges in a changing dairy industry

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Monday, November 17, 2014 : 9:02 AM - 9:18 AM

Amy K. Liebman, MPA, MA , Migrant Clinicians Network, Salisbury, MD
Matthew Keifer, MD, MPH , Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Iris Anne Reyes, MPH , National Farm Medicine Center, Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation, Marshfield, WI
Patricia M. Juárez-Carrillo, PhD, MPH , Center for Inter-American and Border Studies, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX
Stephen Waring, DVM, PhD , Division of Research, Essentia Institute of Rural Health, Duluth, MN
Dairy in Wisconsin and the nation is rapidly changing from the family owned and run, small herd farms to large, multi-thousand head operations with large hired workforces. In Wisconsin Hispanic immigrant workers represent some 50% of the hired workforce in dairy. Large animals, often extreme weather conditions and large powered machinery contribute to high rates of injury in one of the most dangerous industries in the US.

Three separate and distinct dairy health and safety research projects employed a common needs assessment process to obtain formative data on language, key issues, clear needs and common understandings from among agricultural extension agents, farm owners, clinicians, farmworkers, trainers, insurance personnel and researchers.  Structured interview guides were developed reflecting the data needs of the three projects. Key informant and focus groups were used to interview subjects. Qualitative analysis of data identified both solicited and spontaneously emergent themes with important implications for the three different studies.  New, unexpected information was discovered focusing on challenges for workers, employers and clinicians in this rapidly transforming industry.

Summaries of the key findings will be presented, emphasizing how the data influenced the three projects.  The importance of this open ended formative data collection will be discussed and unexpected emergent findings will be reviewed.

Learning Areas:

Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Occupational health and safety

Learning Objectives:
Describe the value of qualitative data methods in early project development among socially varied informants.

Keyword(s): Cultural Competency, Rural Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: My career is devoted to improving the health/safety of disenfranchised populations. I serve as Director of Environmental and Occupational Health for Migrant Clinicians Network and established a national initiative to reduce risks associated with environmental/occupational hazards by improving clinical knowledge and practices as well as community outreach and education. I’ve also been a national leader in bringing culturally appropriate approaches such as promotores de salud to EOH efforts in order to educate workers and communities.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3059.0: Designing new safety implements for a changing agriculture: Workers, farmers and injury