Evaluation of a Respiratory Health Program for Farmers and Their Families
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Evaluation of a Respiratory Health Program for Farmers and Their Families
Date:
Sun, 19 Jan 2003 13:43:24 -0500
From:
Stephen Tvedten <steve@getipm.com>
Organization: Get Set Inc. (www.getipm.com)
To: Paul Helliker <phelliker@cdpr.ca.gov>
Director, State of California, Department of Pesticide
Regulation
cc: Christine Whitman whitman.christine@epa.gov
Evaluation of a Respiratory Health Program for Farmers and Their Families
* JOEM 44:11 PP 1064-1074
Debbie Mpofu, PhD, Lori Lockinger, RN, BScN, Julie Bidwell, RN, BScN, and
Helen H. McDuffie, PhD
Occupational exposures to organic dusts, gases, welding fumes and agricultural chemicals result in farmers' increased risk of respiratory health problems compared to other workers. The Respiratory Health Program for Saskatchewan farmers addresses the difficulties of delivering an occupational health program to a sparsely distributed population on the Prairies. We summarized their pulmonary function and respiratory health by spirometry and questionnaire respectively. The necessity of the program was demonstrated by the frequency of lower than predicted pulmonary function tests and referrals to family physicians (1996 through 1999). Age, years in farming, usual cough, wheezing on most days and nights, bringing up phlegm from the chest, breathlessness, and cigarette smoking were associated significantly with pulmonary function results. We evaluated the Respiratory Health Program (1994 through 2000) with respect to acceptability, accessibility, appropriateness, continuity, effectiveness, efficiency, and risk/safety by using questionnaires and evaluations by farm families.
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