Determinants of agricultural injury: a novel application of population health theory.
OBJECTIVE
(1) To apply novel population health theory to the modelling of injury experiences in one particular research context. (2) To enhance understanding of the conditions and practices that lead to farm injury.


METHODS
Prospective, cohort study conducted over 2&emsp14;years (2007-09).


METHODS
50 rural municipalities in the Province of Saskatchewan, Canada.


METHODS
5038 participants from 2169 Saskatchewan farms, contributing 10,092 person-years of follow-up.


METHODS
Individual exposure: self-reported times involved in farm work. Contextual factors: scaled measures describe socioeconomic, physical, and cultural farm environments.


RESULTS
time to first self-reported farm injury.


RESULTS
450 farm injuries were reported for 370 individuals on 338 farms over 2 years of follow-up. Times involved in farm work were strongly and consistently related to time to first injury event, with strong monotonic increases in risk observed between none, part-time, and full-time work hour categories. Relationships between farm work hours and time to first injury were not modified by the contextual factors. Respondents reporting high versus low levels of physical farm hazards at baseline experienced increased risks for farm injury on follow-up (HR 1.54; 95% CI 1.16 to 1.47).


CONCLUSIONS
Based on study findings, firm conclusions cannot be drawn about the application of population health theory to the study of farm injury aetiology. Injury prevention efforts should continue to focus on: (1) sound occupational health and safety practices associated with long work hours; (2) physical risks and hazards on farms.
Pickett
William
W
Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada. will.pickett@queensu.ca
Hagel
Louise M
LM
Day
Andrew G
AG
Day
Lesley
L
Sun
Xiaoqun
X
Brison
Robert J
RJ
Marlenga
Barbara L
BL
King
Matthew
M
Crowe
Trever
T
Pahwa
Punam
P
Koehncke
Niels
N
Dosman
James
J
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000383:Agriculture / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012423:Rural Health / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012525:Saskatchewan / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult