Evaluation of a 3year intervention to increase adoption of safer nursery crop production practices.
BACKGROUND
We conducted a 3year intervention to increase awareness and adoption of eight more profitable nursery crop production practices that reduced certain traumatic and musculoskeletal injury hazards.


METHODS
We disseminated information to nursery managers across seven states using information channels they were known to rely on (e.g. trade publications, public events, university Extension, other managers). We evaluated rolling, independent, probability samples (n=1200) with mail questionnaires before the intervention and after each of 3 intervention years. We also evaluated samples (n=250) from a comparison group of New Zealand nursery managers.


RESULTS
The intervention was associated with increased awareness of four of the eight practices among US managers after year 3 compared to their baseline: zippers (20 vs. 32%, p<or=0.000), stools (11 vs. 22%, p<or=0.001), pruners (29 vs. 40%, p<or=0.014), and tarps (24 vs. 33%, p<or=0.009). There were no changes in adoption. New Zealand manager awareness was increased for hoes after year 2 compared to their baseline (35 vs. 52%, p<or=0.010).


CONCLUSIONS
A modest, regionwide information dissemination intervention was associated with increased awareness, but not adoption.
University of Wisconsin, Biological Systems Engineering Department, 460 Henry Mall, Madison, WI 53706, USA. ljchapma@wisc.edu
Larry J
LJ
Chapman
Astrid C
AC
Newenhouse
Ben-Tzion
BT
Karsh
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000383:Agriculture; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D006804:Ergonomics; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D016272:Occupational Health; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control