Injury surveillance in agriculture.
Information on agricultural trauma is limited and difficult to find. Planning for effective prevention strategies and evaluation is compromised by lack of a good surveillance system. Several agencies and organizations have provided some data. Although their summation is at best an approximation of the real situation, a critical review of current data bases is presented. The literature is also reviewed attempting to characterize agricultural trauma. This characterization was classified into: 1) case descriptions, 2) reviews of general articles on the hazards of farming, and 3) descriptive surveys of agricultural injuries. A summary of the available literature still leaves a rather superficial understanding of the entire injury picture. A new approach to surveillance is necessary to overcome past deficiencies. A combined modality approach is suggested, utilizing on-site survey, mail survey, telephone interviewing, and medical record verification. Trial applications of two such systems in Minnesota are described.
Gunderson
P
P
Minnesota Department of Health, Minneapolis 55440.
Gerberich
S
S
Gibson
R
R
Adlis
S
S
Carr
P
P
Erdman
A
A
Elkington
J
J
French
R
R
Melton
J
J
True
J
J
D000062:Accidents, Occupational; D000383:Agriculture; D006801:Humans; D007256:Information Systems; D011159:Population Surveillance; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014489:United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*