Premium
Predictors of use of hearing protection among a representative sample of farmers
Author(s) -
McCullagh M.C.,
Ronis D.L.,
Lusk S.L.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
research in nursing and health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1098-240X
pISSN - 0160-6891
DOI - 10.1002/nur.20410
Subject(s) - sample (material) , hearing loss , medicine , hearing protection , environmental health , audiology , psychology , chemistry , chromatography
Abstract Farmers experience higher rates of noise‐induced hearing loss (NIHL) than workers in most other industries. We developed a model of farmers' use of hearing protection, and tested it with a random sample ( n = 532) of farmers from the upper Midwest. Barriers to using hearing protection (e.g., difficulty communicating; OR = .44, p < .003) were negatively related to use. Greater access/availability of hearing protectors ( OR = 1.75, p < .010) and male gender ( OR = .43, p < .019) were positively related to use. The model correctly predicted use of hearing protection for 74% of the cases. Overall, farmers demonstrated low hearing protector use, and results were similar to those from previous studies of non‐farm workers. Findings from this study will be useful in designing interventions to increase farmers' hearing protector use and decrease their rates of NIHL. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 33:528–538, 2010