Evaluation of a Point Source Intervention for Preventing Hearing Loss on Farmers’ Attitudes and Beliefs:a Randomized Controlled Trial

Details

• Personal Author:
  Achutan, Chandran ; Baccaglini L ; Ehlers J ; Lyden E ; Rautiainen RH
• Description:
  Objectives: Hearing protection devices (HPDs) can effectively prevent hearing loss. However, they are not widely used by farmers. This study assessed factors influencing farmers' perceptions about hearing protection and evaluated if a point source hearing protection intervention changed these perceptions over time. Methods: Intervention farmers (n=53) received education and the point source intervention (storing HPDs near major noise sources). Control farmers (n=36) received education only. Annually, for nearly four years, farmers from both groups were asked to complete a questionnaire about their perceptions of hearing protection. Results: During the multi-year study, both intervention and control farmers' perceptions about hearing protection improved. Perceptions about barriers related to comfort were better for intervention farms (p=0.007) and for farmers that participated in the study longer (p<0.001). Perceptions about self-efficacy were also better for intervention farms (p=0.001) and for farmers that participated in the study longer (p<0.001). Age was associated with better perceptions about the benefits of hearing protection (p=0.011). Perceptions about communication barriers improved for all farmers as the study advanced (p=0.002) and for farmers that were older (p=0.006). Conclusion: Intervention and control groups improved their perceptions of hearing protection over time. The point source intervention contributed to the effect of education on farmers' perceptions of comfort and self-efficacy but not to perceptions related to communication barriers or the benefits of hearing protection. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Agriculture Farmers Hearing Hearing Loss Noise Noise, Occupational Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Safety
• Keywords:
  Agricultural Safety Attitude Author Keywords: Agriculture Farmer Hearing Loss Prevention Hearing Protection Intervention Effectiveness Noise Exposure Personal Protective Equipment PPE
• ISSN:
  1074-7583
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Nebraska ; OSHA Region 7
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  225-239
• Volume:
  29
• Issue:
  4
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20069286
• Citation:
  J Agric Saf Health 2023 Oct; 29(4):225-239
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2024
• NORA Priority Area:
  Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
• Performing Organization:
  University of Nebraska Medical Center - Omaha
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20110901
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health
• End Date:
  20270831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:e21fd30b0028cea038eeaa4afc6bffda10c83ca7d7b36eca2f4f40df0f33a9d79bd460c9775ce72999ed5cf9f246129f43d3004eaffa39e892d4ceb666fdfa7a
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/207790/cdc_207790_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 350.72 KB ]