Evaluation of agricultural safety interventions has frequently been identified as an area requiri... more Evaluation of agricultural safety interventions has frequently been identified as an area requiring further research. This study prospectively evaluates the effectiveness of three specific educational safety interventions in reducing farm hazards. Farm characteristics and hazard conditions at 216 farms in Pennsylvania were assessed through a questionnaire and objective audit, respectively, at both pre- and post-intervention time points. Counties were assigned to one of the following interventions: youth education, community coalition, self-audit, pre/post control, or post-only control group. Changes in hazard were analyzed through linear regression. Self-audit was the most effective intervention, leading to a 20% reduction in hazard scores. The community coalition and pre/post control group also showed reductions. Intervention effectiveness significantly differed depending on initial hazards, indicating the need to target specific interventions for more or less hazardous farms. Findings of this prospective evaluation differed from the initial cross-sectional results, thus underscoring the need for longitudinal investigations.
Given senior citizens' vulnerability for food-borne illness, a need exists to determine t... more Given senior citizens' vulnerability for food-borne illness, a need exists to determine the necessity and focus for education. Focus groups at senior centers reveal that the seniors (N=74) who prepare more than five meals a week at home use both inappropriate and appropriate practices to cook, cool, and thaw foods. Seniors rely of the distant past for knowledge and identify barriers to altering practices but state that information from educators about the health effects of inappropriate practices will convince them to change. For future food safety education, seniors recommend programs, videotapes, television, newspapers, radio, church bulletins, and written educational pieces.
ABSTRACT Researchers examining the effects of programs, in this case a state-level pharmaceutical... more ABSTRACT Researchers examining the effects of programs, in this case a state-level pharmaceutical assistance program for the elderly, sometimes must rely on multiple methods of data collection. Two-stage data collection (e.g., a telephone interview followed by a mail questionnaire) was used to obtain a full range of information. Older age groups were found to participate less frequently in the telephone interview, while certain demographic factors characterized mail questionnaire nonparticipants, all of which supports past research. Results also show that those in the poorest health are less likely to participate in the mail survey. Combining the two methods did not result in high attrition, suggesting that innovation can be successfully employed. Knowledge of the bias associated with each method will aid in targeting special groups.
... RICHARD GITELSON,* DEBORAH KERSTETTER,t and NANCY ELLEN KIERNANt ... Grand Tour was a &am... more ... RICHARD GITELSON,* DEBORAH KERSTETTER,t and NANCY ELLEN KIERNANt ... Grand Tour was a "finishing school" for British males that involved travel on the European conti-nent and ... Some high school 5"lo Ag grad 24Ofo High school 45"lo Other than ag 21070 Technical ...
Abstract: Reading the Farm is a 2-to 3-day professional development program that brings together ... more Abstract: Reading the Farm is a 2-to 3-day professional development program that brings together agricultural service providers from a range of agencies, with various expertise and levels of experience, to explore whole-farm systems and sustainability through in-depth study of two case-study farms. Over 90% of past participants reported that the program has helped them be more effective service providers.
Concerns and perceptions about antibiotic residues in milk prompted the dairy industry to develop... more Concerns and perceptions about antibiotic residues in milk prompted the dairy industry to develop a voluntary program to support rational antibiotic use on dairy farms. One deficiency of this program is the inability of producers to identify easily the weaknesses in antibiotic management in order to develop control plans. To overcome this deficiency, an educational approach was designed. The program centered on an on-farm risk assessment tool used by the producer and an industry educator to determine the current risk for residue violation. The risk assessment tool was tested by 25 field personnel working with northeastern milk receivers and 250 producers in seven states. The participants in the study identified a lack of adequate treatment records as being the highest risk factor for antibiotic residues, followed by deficiencies in understanding how to use antibiotics and poor relationships between veterinarians and their clients. When field representatives utilized the risk assessm...
This study was designed to evaluate changes in calf and heifer management in a sample of Pennsylv... more This study was designed to evaluate changes in calf and heifer management in a sample of Pennsylvania dairy farms in conjunction with a statewide extension program on dairy replacements. The extension program reached dairy farmers in addition to individuals in agribusiness, veterinarians, and others who have frequent contact with dairy farmers through a multiplicity of information channels. An extensive survey was conducted during the 1st yr of the project on 329 commercial dairy farms throughout Pennsylvania. The same farms were contacted 2.5 to 3 yr later for comparison. Most (84.7%) of the farmers in the original random sample learned new information about calf and heifer management during this time, and 77.3% reported that they received all or part of this new information from extension. Sources of information most often used by the farmers in this study were dairy magazines, extension newsletters, and meetings organized either through extension or agribusiness. Adoption by farm...
Abstract Organic farming is one of the fastest growing agricultural sectors worldwide, and funds ... more Abstract Organic farming is one of the fastest growing agricultural sectors worldwide, and funds to support research and extension activities that address the needs of organic producers are becoming more widely available in the USA. Solutions to problems in ...
American Journal of Industrial Medicine, Apr 1, 1996
It is clear that agriculture has not kept pace with other hazardous industries in reducing its in... more It is clear that agriculture has not kept pace with other hazardous industries in reducing its injury rate. For example, between 1960 and 1990 the work death rate for agriculture decreased only 28% while the work death rates decreased 65% for mining and 55% for construction [Purschwitz (1992)]. A national conference in Iowa in 1988 came to the forceful conclusion that "America's most productive workforce was being systematically liquidated by an epidemic of occupational disease and traumatic death and injury" [NCASH (1988)]. In 1991, the nation's top public health officer, the U.S. Surgeon General, convened a conference titled "FarmSafe 2000-A National Coalition for Local Action," to formally address agricultural safety and health issues. Importantly, conferees recognized that preventing injury and disease was superior to trying to rehabilitate people after an injury occurred. But does participation in farm safety and health educational programs lead to a reduction in risk of injury from farm work? Questions are being raised about the value of farm safety and health educational information, campaigns, programs, and related activities. The questions have identified a critical gap in the literature of farm safety and health education. There is currently no good evidence demonstrating that farm safety and health education, campaigns, programs, or related activities lead to a relatively stable reduction of risk on the farm. In other words, do farmers and their families actually put to use, in a relatively permanent or stable manner, the educational information regarding elimination, reduction, or control of physical hazards and the modification of work behavior that may cause injury?
Evaluation of agricultural safety interventions has frequently been identified as an area requiri... more Evaluation of agricultural safety interventions has frequently been identified as an area requiring further research. This study prospectively evaluates the effectiveness of three specific educational safety interventions in reducing farm hazards. Farm characteristics and hazard conditions at 216 farms in Pennsylvania were assessed through a questionnaire and objective audit, respectively, at both pre- and post-intervention time points. Counties were assigned to one of the following interventions: youth education, community coalition, self-audit, pre/post control, or post-only control group. Changes in hazard were analyzed through linear regression. Self-audit was the most effective intervention, leading to a 20% reduction in hazard scores. The community coalition and pre/post control group also showed reductions. Intervention effectiveness significantly differed depending on initial hazards, indicating the need to target specific interventions for more or less hazardous farms. Findings of this prospective evaluation differed from the initial cross-sectional results, thus underscoring the need for longitudinal investigations.
Given senior citizens' vulnerability for food-borne illness, a need exists to determine t... more Given senior citizens' vulnerability for food-borne illness, a need exists to determine the necessity and focus for education. Focus groups at senior centers reveal that the seniors (N=74) who prepare more than five meals a week at home use both inappropriate and appropriate practices to cook, cool, and thaw foods. Seniors rely of the distant past for knowledge and identify barriers to altering practices but state that information from educators about the health effects of inappropriate practices will convince them to change. For future food safety education, seniors recommend programs, videotapes, television, newspapers, radio, church bulletins, and written educational pieces.
ABSTRACT Researchers examining the effects of programs, in this case a state-level pharmaceutical... more ABSTRACT Researchers examining the effects of programs, in this case a state-level pharmaceutical assistance program for the elderly, sometimes must rely on multiple methods of data collection. Two-stage data collection (e.g., a telephone interview followed by a mail questionnaire) was used to obtain a full range of information. Older age groups were found to participate less frequently in the telephone interview, while certain demographic factors characterized mail questionnaire nonparticipants, all of which supports past research. Results also show that those in the poorest health are less likely to participate in the mail survey. Combining the two methods did not result in high attrition, suggesting that innovation can be successfully employed. Knowledge of the bias associated with each method will aid in targeting special groups.
... RICHARD GITELSON,* DEBORAH KERSTETTER,t and NANCY ELLEN KIERNANt ... Grand Tour was a &am... more ... RICHARD GITELSON,* DEBORAH KERSTETTER,t and NANCY ELLEN KIERNANt ... Grand Tour was a "finishing school" for British males that involved travel on the European conti-nent and ... Some high school 5"lo Ag grad 24Ofo High school 45"lo Other than ag 21070 Technical ...
Abstract: Reading the Farm is a 2-to 3-day professional development program that brings together ... more Abstract: Reading the Farm is a 2-to 3-day professional development program that brings together agricultural service providers from a range of agencies, with various expertise and levels of experience, to explore whole-farm systems and sustainability through in-depth study of two case-study farms. Over 90% of past participants reported that the program has helped them be more effective service providers.
Concerns and perceptions about antibiotic residues in milk prompted the dairy industry to develop... more Concerns and perceptions about antibiotic residues in milk prompted the dairy industry to develop a voluntary program to support rational antibiotic use on dairy farms. One deficiency of this program is the inability of producers to identify easily the weaknesses in antibiotic management in order to develop control plans. To overcome this deficiency, an educational approach was designed. The program centered on an on-farm risk assessment tool used by the producer and an industry educator to determine the current risk for residue violation. The risk assessment tool was tested by 25 field personnel working with northeastern milk receivers and 250 producers in seven states. The participants in the study identified a lack of adequate treatment records as being the highest risk factor for antibiotic residues, followed by deficiencies in understanding how to use antibiotics and poor relationships between veterinarians and their clients. When field representatives utilized the risk assessm...
This study was designed to evaluate changes in calf and heifer management in a sample of Pennsylv... more This study was designed to evaluate changes in calf and heifer management in a sample of Pennsylvania dairy farms in conjunction with a statewide extension program on dairy replacements. The extension program reached dairy farmers in addition to individuals in agribusiness, veterinarians, and others who have frequent contact with dairy farmers through a multiplicity of information channels. An extensive survey was conducted during the 1st yr of the project on 329 commercial dairy farms throughout Pennsylvania. The same farms were contacted 2.5 to 3 yr later for comparison. Most (84.7%) of the farmers in the original random sample learned new information about calf and heifer management during this time, and 77.3% reported that they received all or part of this new information from extension. Sources of information most often used by the farmers in this study were dairy magazines, extension newsletters, and meetings organized either through extension or agribusiness. Adoption by farm...
Abstract Organic farming is one of the fastest growing agricultural sectors worldwide, and funds ... more Abstract Organic farming is one of the fastest growing agricultural sectors worldwide, and funds to support research and extension activities that address the needs of organic producers are becoming more widely available in the USA. Solutions to problems in ...
American Journal of Industrial Medicine, Apr 1, 1996
It is clear that agriculture has not kept pace with other hazardous industries in reducing its in... more It is clear that agriculture has not kept pace with other hazardous industries in reducing its injury rate. For example, between 1960 and 1990 the work death rate for agriculture decreased only 28% while the work death rates decreased 65% for mining and 55% for construction [Purschwitz (1992)]. A national conference in Iowa in 1988 came to the forceful conclusion that "America's most productive workforce was being systematically liquidated by an epidemic of occupational disease and traumatic death and injury" [NCASH (1988)]. In 1991, the nation's top public health officer, the U.S. Surgeon General, convened a conference titled "FarmSafe 2000-A National Coalition for Local Action," to formally address agricultural safety and health issues. Importantly, conferees recognized that preventing injury and disease was superior to trying to rehabilitate people after an injury occurred. But does participation in farm safety and health educational programs lead to a reduction in risk of injury from farm work? Questions are being raised about the value of farm safety and health educational information, campaigns, programs, and related activities. The questions have identified a critical gap in the literature of farm safety and health education. There is currently no good evidence demonstrating that farm safety and health education, campaigns, programs, or related activities lead to a relatively stable reduction of risk on the farm. In other words, do farmers and their families actually put to use, in a relatively permanent or stable manner, the educational information regarding elimination, reduction, or control of physical hazards and the modification of work behavior that may cause injury?
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