Jessie Adams1, Jacqueline Cotton1,2, Susan Brumby1,2. 1. National Centre for Farmer Health, Western District Health Service, Hamilton, Vic., Australia. 2. School of Medicine, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Vic., Australia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Despite continued higher rates of workplace injuries, earlier morbidity and mortality and challenging climatic environments, few formal programs focus on the health, well-being and safety of farmers. The agricultural health and medicine unit, developed in 2010, was designed to increase cultural competence and empower rural professionals to improve the health, well-being and safety outcomes of farming populations in Australia. This study aimed to understand the extent to which graduates (2010-2018) use the knowledge and skills gained in their current occupations and identify barriers and enablers faced in implementing them. DESIGN: Mixed-methods descriptive study. SETTING: Graduates were invited to complete an online survey. Following the survey, graduates participated in a phone interview until saturation was reached. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-one graduates completed the survey (31% response rate), and eleven interviews were conducted. INTERVENTIONS: Education in agricultural health and medicine. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Graduates use of knowledge and skills gained from the course and the barriers and enablers they experienced in implementation. RESULTS: The most represented occupations were nursing, medicine and agriculture (farming). Of respondents, 76% agreed their ability to diagnose, treat or prevent agricultural occupational illness or injury had improved. Positively, 42% use course content professionally at least weekly. Fifty-one per cent experienced barriers in implementing their new knowledge, and little evidence of career advancement was observed. CONCLUSION: This study informs the continuous development of the agricultural health and medicine curriculum and highlights the importance of a collaborative and multidisciplinary approach to improving the health, well-being and safety of farming populations. Despite engaged graduates, the continued high workplace mortality, preventable non-communicable disease and challenging climatic conditions highlight the need for strategic prioritisation of farmers' health across health, agriculture and policy settings.
OBJECTIVE: Despite continued higher rates of workplace injuries, earlier morbidity and mortality and challenging climatic environments, few formal programs focus on the health, well-being and safety of farmers. The agricultural health and medicine unit, developed in 2010, was designed to increase cultural competence and empower rural professionals to improve the health, well-being and safety outcomes of farming populations in Australia. This study aimed to understand the extent to which graduates (2010-2018) use the knowledge and skills gained in their current occupations and identify barriers and enablers faced in implementing them. DESIGN: Mixed-methods descriptive study. SETTING: Graduates were invited to complete an online survey. Following the survey, graduates participated in a phone interview until saturation was reached. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-one graduates completed the survey (31% response rate), and eleven interviews were conducted. INTERVENTIONS: Education in agricultural health and medicine. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Graduates use of knowledge and skills gained from the course and the barriers and enablers they experienced in implementation. RESULTS: The most represented occupations were nursing, medicine and agriculture (farming). Of respondents, 76% agreed their ability to diagnose, treat or prevent agricultural occupational illness or injury had improved. Positively, 42% use course content professionally at least weekly. Fifty-one per cent experienced barriers in implementing their new knowledge, and little evidence of career advancement was observed. CONCLUSION: This study informs the continuous development of the agricultural health and medicine curriculum and highlights the importance of a collaborative and multidisciplinary approach to improving the health, well-being and safety of farming populations. Despite engaged graduates, the continued high workplace mortality, preventable non-communicable disease and challenging climatic conditions highlight the need for strategic prioritisation of farmers' health across health, agriculture and policy settings.