title: Effectiveness of the Indiana 4-H tractor program at instilling safe tractor operating behaviors and attitudes in youth.
abstract: The purpose of this research was to determine what impact the Indiana 4-H Tractor Program has had on safer tractor operating behavior and attitudes of participants and to provide recommendations for program improvement. To assess the impact, 108 non 4-H youth who reported they operated a tractor regularly were compared with 104 4-H Tractor Program participants. A single skilled evaluator observed each individual in the two groups as she/he operated a tractor through a standard tractor-operating course. Information on recent tractor-related injury history and attitudes toward tractor safety was gathered using a written survey. Results showed that the program has had both a perceived and demonstrable positive influence; however, a need for improvements was also shown. Most significant of the findings was that participants in the 4-H Tractor Program were observed to operate tractors in a safer and more skillful manner. Even though the 4-H Tractor Program participants reported substantially more exposure time to tractor operation, they did not report a significantly different injury experience in comparison to the non-participants. Responses from the 4-H program participants, however, indicated a trend toward having more tractor-related close call incidents. There was no significant difference between the two groups in their attitudes toward tractor safety. Program recommendations developed as a result of the study primarily related to the need for updating instructional material used in the 4-H Tractor Program and the need for additional training and resources for volunteer leaders.
authors.affiliation: 4-H Youth Development, Grafton County, North Haverhill, New Hampshire, USA.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Carrabba
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Field
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Tormoehlen
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Talbert
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000383:Agriculture / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001290:Attitude; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007196:Indiana; D008297:Male; D018986:Motor Vehicles; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012449:Safety; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires