Abstract
BackgroundThe ongoing Farmers’ Cohort for Agricultural Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (FARM) study was developed to evaluate health status and related factors in farmers.MethodsFarmers 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.ResultsThe 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%).ConclusionsThe 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.
Highlights
IntroductionMusculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are common among farmers because of the extremely labor-intensive workload in agriculture.[1,2,3] The estimated lifetime prevalence of MSDs among farmers has been reported as 90.6%, and the 1-year MSD prevalence has been reported as 76.9%.4 In populationbased studies, MSDs were more frequent among farmers, with more severe symptoms affecting the hands and forearms, low back, and hips compared to less physically demanding nonfarmer occupations.[5,6,7] The impact of MSDs in farmers is substantial and results in long-term disability and income loss
The estimated lifetime prevalence of Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among farmers has been reported as 90.6%, and the 1-year MSD prevalence has been reported as 76.9%
MSDs were more frequent among farmers, with more severe symptoms affecting the hands and forearms, low back, and hips compared to less physically demanding nonfarmer occupations.[5,6,7]
Summary
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are common among farmers because of the extremely labor-intensive workload in agriculture.[1,2,3] The estimated lifetime prevalence of MSDs among farmers has been reported as 90.6%, and the 1-year MSD prevalence has been reported as 76.9%.4 In populationbased studies, MSDs were more frequent among farmers, with more severe symptoms affecting the hands and forearms, low back, and hips compared to less physically demanding nonfarmer occupations.[5,6,7] The impact of MSDs in farmers is substantial and results in long-term disability and income loss. Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are common among farmers because of the extremely labor-intensive workload in agriculture.[1,2,3] The estimated lifetime prevalence of MSDs among farmers has been reported as 90.6%, and the 1-year MSD prevalence has been reported as 76.9%.4. The ongoing Farmers’ Cohort for Agricultural Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (FARM) study was developed to evaluate health status and related factors in farmers. Results: The FARM study covers eight rural areas and recruited 1013 subjects (534 women; mean [standard deviation {SD}] age, 57.2 [7.5] years). 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
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