title: Unrealistic optimism, fatalism, and risk-taking in New Zealand farmers' descriptions of quad-bike incidents: a directed qualitative content analysis.
abstract: Quad-bike incidents are a major cause of occupational injury and fatality on farms warranting health and safety attention. As part of a larger study, we carried out a face-to-face survey with 216 farmers in New Zealand. We quantitatively identified farmers' propensity for risk-taking, unrealistic optimism, and fatalism as risk factors in quad-bike loss-of-control events (LCEs). The purpose of the analysis presented in this article was to use these same farmers' recollections of LCEs to explore the a priori constructs in more detail using qualitative methods. Participants reporting one or more LCEs described their first LCE and any experienced in the previous 12 months. Participants provided open-text responses about what occurred at each LCE, their reflections, and general thoughts on LCE risk factors. Directed qualitative content analysis (QCA) was used to "unpack" risk-taking, unrealistic optimism, and fatalism whilst also delineating any additional concepts that farmers associate with LCEs. Risk-taking elements were more evident than unrealistic optimism or fatalism and more suggestive of farmers finding themselves in risky situations rather than engaging in risk-seeking behavior per se. Additional inductively derived categories of fatigue/stress, multitasking, inexperience, and quad-bike faults highlight the complex nature of LCEs and the importance of risk assessment covering these concepts as well as risky situations.
authors: a Rehabilitation Teaching and Research Unit, Department of Medicine , University of Otago , Wellington , New Zealand.
authors: Lynne
authors: L
authors: Clay
authors: E Jean C
authors: EJ
authors: Hay-Smith
authors: Gareth J
authors: GJ
authors: Treharne
authors: Stephan
authors: S
authors: Milosavljevic
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000523:psychology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D000067565:Farmers / Q000523:psychology*; D005221:Fatigue; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D015541:Off-Road Motor Vehicles; D000067656:Optimism; D012309:Risk-Taking; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Accident; all-terrain vehicle; human factors