title: Farmers' concerns: a qualitative assessment to plan rural medical education.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Limited research suggests that translational approaches are needed to decrease the distance, physical and cultural, between farmers and health care.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study seeks to identify special concerns of farmers in Alabama and explore the need for a medical education program tailored to prepare physicians to address those concerns.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted 2 focus groups with 20 farmers from diverse communities, backgrounds, and farming operations. The sessions were audio-recorded, transcribed, coded, and analyzed for determined patterns.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The following categories were developed as areas of importance to farmers: the need for physicians to understand the culture of farming, occupational exposures in farming, and recommendations for improving the health of farmers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings suggest that to adequately serve farmers, medical students interested in entering practice in rural areas should have or develop a relevant and adequate understanding of farming practices.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Rural Medicine, The University of Alabama College of Community Health Sciences, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487-0327, USA.
authors.forename: Brittney T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Gwendolyn J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Wheat
authors.forename: Amina S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Wofford
authors.forename: O Sam
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Wiggins
authors.forename: Laura H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Downey
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D000407:Alabama; D004501:Education, Medical; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006287:Health Planning Guidelines; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health; D012423:Rural Health / Q000193:education*; D000078329:Workforce