Interventions Addressing Injury among Agricultural Workers: A Systematic Review

Translation and Validation of the Risk Perception on Safety and Health Questionnaire Among Palm Oil Plantation Workers in Terengganu, Malaysia

INTRODUCTION

Occupational safety and health are of utmost importance in the palm oil industry, particularly in Malaysia where palm oil plantation workers face various hazards. This study aimed to translate and validate a risk perception questionnaire specifically designed to assess the perceptions of safety and health risks among palm oil plantation workers in Terengganu, Malaysia.

METHODOLOGY

The original risk perception questionnaire, consisting of 22 items, was translated into the local language and culturally adapted. The translation process involved forward translation, expert panel discussions, and back translation to ensure linguistic equivalence. The translated questionnaire was then administered to a sample of palm oil plantation workers in Terengganu, Malaysia, for validation purposes. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to assess the model fitness of the questionnaire, and Cronbach's Alpha coefficient was calculated to determine the internal consistency reliability of the final model.

RESULTS

The translated risk perception questionnaire demonstrated good model fitness as indicated by CFA results (X2=224, df=79, p-value<0.0001, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA)=0.07, goodness of fit index (GFI)=0.929, comparative fit index (CFI)=0.902). The questionnaire's final version has one factor comprising 13 items, selected based on factor loadings and theoretical relevance. The internal consistency reliability of the 13-item questionnaire was satisfactory, with a Cronbach's Alpha coefficient of α=0.77.

CONCLUSION

The 13-item risk perception questionnaire demonstrated a good model fit and acceptable internal consistency reliability. It shows that the questionnaire is a valid and reliable tool to evaluate the level of risk perception on safety and health among palm oil plantation workers in Malaysia.

Effect of non-surgical interventions on pain relief and symptom improvement in farmers with diseases of the musculoskeletal system or connective tissue: an exploratory systematic review based on randomized controlled trials

Objective: There are many observational and clinical studies on pain treatment in farmers; however, little is known about the effects of interventions based only on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on diseases of the musculoskeletal system or connective tissue (D-MSCT). This review aimed to summarize evidence on the effects of non-surgical interventions for pain relief and symptom improvement in farmers with D-MSCT.

Materials and Methods: We searched seven databases, including MEDLINE, and three clinical trial registries, including the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, from inception up to February 15, 2021, to identify studies that included at least one treatment group wherein nonsurgical interventions were applied. We focused on 1) pain relief and symptom improvement and 2) quality of life and improvement in physical fitness.

Results: Four studies (three on low back pain and one on knee osteoarthritis) met all the inclusion criteria. Overall, the risk of bias was high, and meta-analysis could not be performed due to heterogeneity. However, a participatory ergonomic approach, exercise centered on strength training with a transtheoretical model, and/or a combination of both could be included in effective educational programs, at least in the short term, to prevent and/or reduce exacerbation of D-MSCT in farmers. Based on internal and external validity, we could postulate a future research agenda and a conceptual education model to prevent D-MSCT in farmers.

Conclusion: Participatory ergonomic intervention, exercise centered on strength training, and/or a combination of both could be included for effective educational programs to prevent and reduce exacerbation of D-MSCT in farmers. High-quality RCTs with a less risk of bias will be implemented for many agricultural work types in various parts worldwide (especially developing countries and regions) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Occupational Hazards and Health and Safety Risks for Latino Tree Trimmers in the Pine Forest Industry

A pilot project was conducted to evaluate the working conditions and work-related body pain among Latino immigrant tree trimmers (n = 57) in the commercial pine forest service industry. Participants were interviewed about personal and work characteristics, job-related occupational hazards, and body pain. A structured questionnaire and a body pain diagram were used as measures for evaluating associations between personal and work characteristics and body pain. The most common health complaints were physical exhaustion (80.7 percent) and headache (33.9 percent). The reported percent of work-related body pain was 54.4 percent. Statistically significant associations were identified between experiencing body pain in knees, working more than two years, and working more than six hours per day (p < .05) as a tree trimmer. Thorough clinical evaluations are needed to confirm these findings. Future research including a larger sample size and more in-depth evaluations are needed to better evaluate worker tasks, musculoskeletal risk factors, and safety climate issues among this highly vulnerable occupational group.