Journal of Agromedicine最新文献

Engaging target populations and obtaining reliable research data has become increasingly difficult. Traditional randomized control trial (RCT) approaches, though useful in establishing sound knowledge and identifying effective interventions, can also be counterproductive. This brief provides examples from past research initiatives in which RCT approaches were ineffective and supplemented with alternate recruitment and engagement strategies. In its conclusion, we propose methods for broadening our research approaches to better serve the populations we work with: farmers, commercial fishermen, and loggers. Further, we invite others to join this conversation.

Introduction: Agricultural producers in the United States experience chronic economic volatility that may place them at elevated risk for mental health challenges and disrupted family functioning. Guided by the Family Stress Model (FSM), this study examined associations between economic hardship, mental health, and parenting style among U.S. farm parents.

Methods: Data were drawn from a cross-sectional survey conducted in 2021 and 2022 with 298 farm adults across multiple states. The survey included validated measures of financial strain, symptoms of depression and anxiety (PHQ-9, GAD-7), and parenting style, categorised into authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, or uninvolved.

Results: Results revealed that 40.7% of farm parents met the threshold for probable depression and 30.6% for probable anxiety - rates substantially higher than national averages. Financial indicators such as difficulty paying bills, unmet material needs, financial cutbacks, and higher debt-to-asset ratios were significantly associated with poorer mental health outcomes. Parenting style was also related to both economic stress and emotional well-being: authoritative parents reported the lowest financial stress and mental health symptoms, while uninvolved parents reported the highest.

Conclusions: These findings are consistent with FSM pathways, which posit that economic hardship is associated with greater psychological distress and disruptions in parenting behaviors.

Objective: Fatalities continue to plague the US commercial fishing industry and have broad impacts on coastal communities and families. The success of the Lifejackets for Lobstermen program in the US Northeast led to the development of a Pacific Northwest regional Fishermen Led Injury Prevention Program (FLIPP) for Lifejackets. To be effective in a different region with distinct fisheries, adaptations must be based on regional community input. The goal of this research was to collect and apply the perspectives of commercial fishermen and community partners to improve vessel safety and in particular, lifejacket use, to guide the development of the FLIPP for Lifejackets program.

Methods: Four approaches were used in Washington and Oregon: (1) structured interviews with commercial fishing community partners, (2) surveys with fishermen, (3) lifejacket ranking by fishermen, and (4) brief surveys of regional fish observers.

Results: Commercial fishing community partners (n = 54) confirmed that: a variety of brands/designs with good potential for commercial fishermen exist; there is interest in education around advances in materials and design; and the style depends on fishery, fishermen, and season. There is not a perfect model for all commercial fishing situations. From 98 fishermen interviewed, 15% always reported wearing a lifejacket on deck, 16% most, 40% some, and 25% none of the time. Most fishermen agreed it was important to wear a lifejacket/personal flotation device (PFD) (75%) and indicated interest in learning about new types of lifejackets (71%). Fishermen completed a ranking (n = 56), which showed the Mustang Inflatable Work Vest and Kent Rogue Work Vest stood out as the most preferred lifejackets. The majority of regional fish observers (n = 22) shared the frequency of vessels with at least one crew wearing a lifejacket was below 50%. Most reported fishermen's use of lifejackets was situational and agreed that attitudes regarding lifejacket use among fishermen had become more positive since they began observing.

Conclusion: Conversations and connections established through our efforts created collaborative opportunities and directly informed the design of the FLIPP for Lifejackets Program. These approaches can be used in other regions to establish commercial fishing as a safer industry.

Introduction: Agricultural youth may be at greater risk for poor mental health than their non-farm counterparts. While mental health resources exist for agricultural populations, they are typically adult-focused and not tailored to the needs of youth. Additionally, the preferred sources and modes for mental health information among agricultural youth are not well known. The objective of this pilot study is to identify the sources of mental health information of most interest among agricultural youth and the methods of which they prefer mental health information.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey using a short questionnaire was administered to youth (ages 14-18) attending the National FFA Convention. A convenience sample of convention attendees completed a paper-based or online survey measuring demographics, preferred mental health information sources, and mental health information delivery modes. Descriptive statistics and independent samples t-tests were used to examine the research question.

Results: Of 386 youth surveyed (mean age = 16.13, SD = 1.15), nearly half (46.89%) reported living on a farm or ranch at least 50% of the time. Compared to their non-farm-residing peers, farm-residing youth were significantly less interested in receiving mental health information from medical doctors (p = .019) and mental health specialists (p < .001). Among farm-residing youth, females showed significantly greater interest than males in receiving information from teachers (p = .040), sport coaches (p = .034), spiritual leaders (p = .039), medical doctors (p = .009), and mental health specialists (p = .005).

Discussion: Results from this study suggest youth who live on farms might be more interested in receiving mental health information from youth leaders and spiritual coaches than individuals in more traditional medical roles. Additional research should examine whether this is due to preferences or barriers to accessing more traditional mental health services in agricultural communities. These findings can inform the development of mental health programming for agricultural youth.

Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to determine if workers occupationally exposed (WOE) to sheep, specifically shepherds and cheesemakers in central Portugal, are more likely to be seropositive for anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG compared to the general population. Additionally, the study aimed to explore potential differences in seropositivity between shepherds and cheesemakers, while evaluating age, gender, and activity as possible risk factors for T. gondii infection.

Methods: A total of 96 WOE, including 21 shepherds and 75 cheesemakers, were tested for anti-T. gondii IgG using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The control group consisted of 192 sera samples from blood donors matched by age, gender, and residence. Chi-square tests with Yates correction were used to compare seroprevalence between WOE and the general population, and between shepherds and cheesemakers. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate potential associations between T. gondii seropositivity and factors such as activity, gender, and age.

Results: The overall seroprevalence was 63.5% in the WOE and 52.6% in the general population, with no statistically significant difference (p = .101). Among WOE, 52.4% of shepherds and 66.7% of cheesemakers were seropositive, with no significant difference between the two groups (p = .344). Univariate and multivariable analyses indicated neither activity, age, nor gender were significant risk factors for seropositivity in the case population.

Conclusion: The study did not find a significant increased risk of T. gondii seropositivity among shepherds and cheesemakers compared to the general population. While high seroprevalence was observed in both groups, other factors unrelated to occupational exposure may be influencing the risk of T. gondii infection. More research is needed, particularly focusing on cheesemakers, to further explore potential occupational health risks related to T. gondii.

Introduction: Irish farmers are recognized as a high-risk group for premature cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality compared to other occupation groups. To better characterize CVD risk within farming subpopulations, there is a need for real-world data examining socio-demographic, economic, and occupational determinants of cardiovascular risk.

Methods: This study reports baseline data from health checks and face-to-face questionnaire capturing socio-demographic and farm characteristics from the Farmers Have Hearts - Cardiovascular Health Program. Farmers were recruited at livestock marts, where live cattle are sold and bought through bidding and predominantly visited by beef farmers, and agri-branches, local retail outlets linked to agribusinesses, commonly visited by dairy farmers. Descriptive statistics characterized the sample, and regression analysis was performed with and without recruitment venue to examine its influence on associations between socio-demographic and cardiovascular risk factors.

Findings: Most farmers had a higher cardiovascular risk, with 74.0% having ≥4 CVD risk factors. Mart-recruited farmers had a significantly higher prevalence of multiple risk factors compared to agri-branch-recruited farmers (79.3% vs 68.8%). This disparity aligned with distinct socio-demographic profiles, as mart-recruited farmers were more likely to be older, single, have lower educational attainment, and operate smaller farms. Including recruitment venue in regression models changed associations between education and low HDL-C and between age and smoking, reflecting contextual influences beyond individual factors.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates that cardiovascular risk is unequally distributed among Irish farmers, with mart-recruited farmers carrying a higher burden. Socio-demographic and occupational differences captured by recruitment venue influence cardiovascular risk, emphasizing the need for targeted health interventions, and agricultural health policy.

Objective: Supporting farmers to maintain good wellbeing and access to mental health supports is crucial to reducing the number of lives lost by suicide. Little is known about the mental health needs of young farmers, how best to support them and how to build resilience. This systematic scoping review was conducted to identify what literature is currently available on the mental health of young farmers, the knowledge gaps, and the needs of this population.

Methods: This systematic scoping review was guided by the Prisma 2020 methodological framework. There were 23 articles included in the review focusing on the mental health of young farmers.

Results: Results were grouped into three categories or main themes which emerged from the included studies. These were: i) contested understandings of the "young farmer"; ii) concerns and issues young farmers may encounter; and iii) and protective factors for young farmers' mental health and wellbeing in rural communities. Results identified several concerns for young farmers, and protective factors that mitigate these concerns. The review identifies that there is a limited focus within the literature on this specific population's needs to provide relevant support for their unique agricultural environment.

Conclusion: This scoping review demonstrates the lack of literature to specifically map the mental health of young farmers. Young people are particularly vulnerable to mental health and wellbeing issues due to the isolated and demanding nature of agricultural environments. The results of this scoping review can be used to inform knowledge and the development of further research that specifically targets this population.

Background: In the agricultural sector, where work-related incidents occur at a high rate, incident investigation and cause analysis are essential to prevent similar events from recurring. Agricultural incidents often result from a complex combination of factors, requiring the establishment of a systematically designed investigation form and analytical methods to identify root causes. This study aimed to develop an Agricultural Incident Investigation Form for use during field visits, enabling systematic cause analysis of agricultural incidents.

Methods: To create the form, this study reviewed incident investigation forms and analytical techniques from both domestic and international sources in agriculture and other industries. It summarized their characteristics, strengths and weaknesses, and applicable elements to structure the format and content of the investigation form. The initial version was then revised and refined based on expert consultations and field evaluations.

Results: The resulting Agricultural Incident Investigation Form accommodates both open-ended and closed-ended responses for each item. The form includes the following sections: 1. Farm (Workplace) Overview, 2. Personal Information of Person(s) Involved, 3. Incident Details, 4. Injury Information, 5. Detailed Investigation, and 6. Cause Investigation and Improvement Measures. The cause investigation section classifies incident causes into mechanical, material/environmental, human, and managerial categories, following the 4 M technique. Each category is further broken down into specific causes to facilitate a detailed understanding of agricultural incidents. The investigation results are then systematized and converted into data to support information accumulation.

Background: Recognizing the negative impacts of the pesticide endosulfan in Kasaragod district, the Kerala State government had declared it as the organic district in 2012.

Objective: Towards assessing the current pesticide usage and management amongst farmers in Pullur-Periye Panchayath of Kasargod, present survey was undertaken.

Methods: Study site selection was considering the health concerns that prevailed in the region over earlier application of endosulfan that had raised health concerns. The onsite survey involved 102 farmers engaged in vegetable farming and was undertaken during January-February 2024. Data was collected based on structured questionnaire and informal interviews that comprised 55% male and 45% female farmers with median age of 60.5 years.

Results: Correlation analysis revealed significant positive correlation to land acreage and disease management methods. Study revealed 54% of farmers to solely practice traditional/organic crop protection methods while 42% relied on combining organic practices with synthetic agrochemicals. Multiple regression analysis amongst positively correlated socioeconomic criteria revealed disease management methods to have positive significant influence on farmer's awareness on pesticide usage. Farmers were found to rely on Deltamethrin and DDT for pest control in vegetable cultivation.

Conclusion: Study sheds light into the regional issues that would help in strategizing plans for implementation of organic agriculture practices. Study is a novel attempt to understand the agricultural practices followed in subsistence farming of vegetables by the farmers in the region that has been declared as an organic agriculture district.

Objectives: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death globally, and suitable interventions are needed for prevention. Certain occupations can create barriers to accessing healthcare while also being a driving force behind lifestyle behaviors that increase risk of CVD. This study analyzed the Framingham 10-year risk for developing coronary heart disease (CHD), among Maine loggers and commercial fishermen residing in Maine, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Alaska compared to the general population of working adults.

Methods: Between 2019 and 2024, loggers and commercial fishermen engaged in health screenings via three studies. Self-reported data regarding health behaviors, as well as anthropometric and biomarker measures, were collected at each screening and were obtained from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for a sample of working adults. Women were excluded due to their limited representation in the logging and commercial fishing populations. Framingham Risk Scores (FRS) for Hard CHD were established for each population, and comparisons were made based on both overall risk and component risk factors.

Results: This study included 44 loggers, 164 commercial fishermen, and 1073 working adults from the NHANES cohort. Commercial fishermen had the highest estimated 10-year FRS with an average of 6.95%, followed by the NHANES sample at 6.39% and loggers with 5.70%.

Conclusion: Though this study demonstrates loggers and commercial fishermen have a similar CVD risk profile to other working aged men, this risk for all three groups is higher than ideal. This study indicates a need to better understand risk among these populations, as well as how the occupational setting can be used for future intervention.