title: Farmers' Cohort for Agricultural Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (FARM) Study: Study Design, Methods, and Baseline Characteristics of Enrolled Subjects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The ongoing Farmers' Cohort for Agricultural Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (FARM) study was developed to evaluate health status and related factors in farmers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Farmers in Kangwon Province, South Korea, were recruited. Baseline characteristics were determined using questionnaires about sociodemographic and health characteristics and agricultural work-related factors. In addition, laboratory examinations (lumbar spinal radiography and serologic testing) were conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The FARM study covers eight rural areas and recruited 1013 subjects (534 women; mean [standard deviation {SD}] age, 57.2 [7.5] years). Musculoskeletal pain in multiple areas was reported by 925 subjects (91.3%), and low back pain (63.8%) was the most frequent site of pain. Farmer's Stress Inventory (mean [SD], 77.7 [10.2]; range, 28-112] and subjective stress index (mean [SD], 5.3 [2.4]; range, 0-10) were above median scale values, reflecting a stressful condition, while the EuroQol-5D-3L index and the EuroQol-Visual Analog Scale scores were high (mean [SD], 0.9 [0.1]; range -0.171-1 and mean [SD], 67.7 [18.7]; range 0-100, respectively), reflecting good life quality. In total, 53% of participants had worked in farming for more than 30 years, and workers involved in dry-field farming comprised the largest subgroup (41.5%). Most participants (94.3%) had no more than a high school education, and families with annual income below 20 million won constituted the largest subgroup (36.3%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The FARM study may provide data on the current health status and related sociodemographic and agricultural work-related risk factors in Korean farmers, with the goal of providing a scientific basis for developing coping interventions and preventive strategies.
authors.affiliation: Center for Farmers' Safety and Health, Kangwon National University Hospital.
authors.forename: Hannae
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jo
authors.forename: Sora
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.forename: Hee-Won
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Sang-Ah
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jiyoung
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Jae E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Ki Sung
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jee Yong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Eun Kyoung
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D000067565:Farmers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012107:Research Design; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires