Social Desirability Bias in Self-Reporting of Hearing Protector Use among Farm Operators

Hearing Difficulties Among Farmworkers in the México-US Southwest Border Region

Migrant and seasonal farmworkers are a vulnerable population with a potentially high risk for hearing loss due to farm-related noise exposures. Occupational noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is permanent, and it is associated with an increased risk for injuries on the job, as well as communication difficulties, isolation, and depression. The México/US border region is one of the most productive agricultural regions in the country, however, no known studies have explored hearing loss among farmworkers in this area. This pilot study was a first step toward measuring and addressing hearing loss and noise exposure among this region's farmworkers. We conducted a cross-sectional survey to estimate the prevalence of subjective hearing difficulties among Yuma County, Arizona farmworkers. Survey interviews took place during a late-night farmworker health fair from 2 am to 6 am to accommodate local farms' labor schedules. Multivariable regression adjusted for demographic and work covariates estimated subjective hearing loss prevalence ratios. Among 132 farmworker participants, 36% reported they have or might have hearing loss, and 62% reported no hearing loss. Subjective hearing loss prevalence was lower in farmworkers who report not working in noise compared to prevalence in farmworkers who work in noise [prevalence ratio, 0.44 (95% CI 0.23-0.82)]. This report contributes to understanding the perception of hearing-related health and occupational exposures among farmworkers in the México-US Southwest border region. The information from this line of research will inform appropriate safety measures known to lower the risk of experiencing occupational NIHL.

Association between neighborhood social cohesion, awareness of chronic diseases, and participation in healthy behaviors in a community cohort

BACKGROUND

Neighborhood social cohesion (NSC) is the network of relationships as well as the shared values and norms of residents in a neighborhood. Higher NSC has been associated with improved cardiovascular health, largely among Whites but not African Americans. In a bi-racial cohort, we aimed to study the association between NSC and chronic disease awareness and engagement in healthy self-management behaviors, two potential mechanisms by which NSC could impact cardiovascular health outcomes.

METHODS

Using the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity Across the Lifespan Study (HANDLS), we cross-sectionally examined the association between NSC and awareness of three chronic conditions (diabetes, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and hypertension) and engagement in healthy self-management behaviors including physical activity, healthy eating, and cigarette avoidance.

RESULTS

Study participants (n = 2082) had a mean age of 56.5 years; 38.7% were White and 61.4% African American. Of the participants, 26% had diabetes, 70% had hypertension and 20.2% had CKD. Mean NSC was 3.3 (SD = 0.80) on a scale of 1 (lowest score) to 5 (highest score). There was no significant association between NSC and any chronic disease awareness, overall or by race. However, each higher point in mean NSC score was associated with less cigarette use and healthier eating scores, among Whites (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 95% confidence interval [CI]: =0.76, 0.61-0.94; beta coefficient [βc]:, 95% CI: 1.75; 0.55-2.97, respectively) but not African Americans (aOR = 0.95, 0.79-1.13; βc: 0.46, - 0.48-1.39, respectively; Pinteraction = 0.08 and 0.06). Among both Whites and African Americans, higher NSC scores were associated with increases in self-reported physical activity (βc: 0.12; 0.08-0.16; Pinteraction = 0.40).

CONCLUSIONS

Community engagement and neighborhood social cohesion may be important targets for promotion of healthy behaviors and cardiovascular disease prevention. More research is needed to understand the different associations of NSC and healthy behaviors by race.

Current Status and Associated Factors of Annual Eye Examination Among People with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Using the 7th National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

PURPOSE

To evaluate the level of annual eye examination (AEE) and identify the associated factors among people with diabetes mellitus (DM).

METHODS

A secondary data analysis was conducted using data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016-2018). A total of 1,465 people with DM (726 men and 739 women) aged ≥ 40 years were included. The data were analyzed using a complex sample analysis considering a combined sampling weight of 3 years.

RESULTS

In total, 29.5% and 12.0% of men and 36.3% and 24.1% of women underwent AEE, and EE at the time of diagnosis of DM, respectively. The AEE rate in men was significantly higher in those who were high school graduates and above (OR = 1.98), current non-smokers (OR = 1.82), had ≥ 10-year duration of DM (OR = 1.75,), and insulin use (OR = 2.81), and those with a normal body mass index (OR = 1.68). For women, the AEE rate was significantly higher in those aged 40-64 years (OR = 1.76) and with ≥ 10-years duration of DM (OR = 1.91).

CONCLUSION

The AEE rate among people with DM is unsatisfactory and needs to be improved. Health education on the importance of AEE, and the application of a reminder or alarm system should be designed to promote AEE to the high-risk population showing lower levels of AEE, including those with a longer duration of DM.

Associations of sleep with gray matter volume and their implications for academic achievement, executive function and intelligence in children with overweight/obesity

BACKGROUND

Children with overweight/obesity have poorer sleep and smaller gray matter volume (GMV) than normal-weight children. No studies have investigated the associations of objectively-assessed sleep and GMV in children with overweight/obesity, or their implications for academic and cognitive outcomes.

OBJECTIVES

To explore the associations of sleep behaviors with GMV in the whole brain and particularly the hippocampus as a region of interest independent of sedentary time (SED) and physical activity; and to assess whether GMV in the associated regions was related to academic achievement, executive function and intelligence quotient (IQ).

METHODS

Ninety-six children with overweight/obesity (10 ± 1 year) were included. Sleep behaviors were assessed with accelerometers. GMV was acquired by magnetic resonance imaging. Academic achievement, executive function and IQ were assessed with separate tests. Analyses were adjusted for sex, peak height velocity and parent education as well as SED and physical activity.

RESULTS

Earlier wake time, less time in bed, wakening after sleep onset (WASO) and WASO occurrences were associated with higher GMV in eight cortical brain regions (k:56-448, P's < .001). Longer total sleep time, higher sleep efficiency and less WASO time were associated with higher GMV in the right hippocampus (β:0.187-0.220, P's < .05). The inferior temporal, fusiform, supramarginal, and postcentral gyri, the superior parietal cortex, precuneus and hippocampus associated with academic achievement and/or IQ. Associations remained after adjustments for SED and physical activity.

CONCLUSIONS

Sleep behaviors are associated with GMV in multiple cortical regions including the right hippocampus in children with overweight/obesity, which in turn, were associated with academic achievement and IQ.

Community-based program to increase use of hearing conservation practices among farm and rural youth: a cluster randomized trial of effectiveness

BACKGROUND

Noise exposure and associated hearing loss affects an estimated 2 million farm youth who are exposed as farm residents, farm family workers, hired workers, children of migrant or seasonal workers, and farm visitors. Risk factors for farm youth include frequent exposure to high farm noise; farm work from an early age, and exposure to high recreational noise (e.g., firearms, ATVs, and personal listening devices).

METHODS

This study compared the effectiveness of two interventions and control. The programs included a community-based interactive youth educational program alone (Group A), a community-based interactive youth educational program followed by an Internet-based booster (Group B), and a no-interaction control (Group C). The study used a cluster randomized control design, with equal allocation ratio to each cluster, without blinding. Inclusion criteria included enrollment in grade 4, parental consent, English speaking, and attending a community-based educational event included in the cluster sampling. A total of 1979 youth were enrolled at 36 sites distributed across the 3 study arms in the following distribution: N = 662 in 13 sites (Group A), N = 680 in 12 sites (Group B), and N = 637 in 11 sites (Group C).

RESULTS

Comparison with pre-intervention data showed no difference in intent to use hearing conservation strategies in experimental groups. However, knowledge and attitudes toward hearing conservation were improved in the groups receiving the Internet-based booster. Participants reported frequent exposure to sources of hazardous noise (e.g., loud sporting events, firecrackers, personal listening devices).

CONCLUSIONS

It is feasible and acceptable to incorporate hearing health education into an already existing system designed to deliver health and safety educational programming to farm and rural youth. The program was adopted by the partner agency for dissemination to up to 100,000 youth annually. Results of this study inform future intervention studies, interventions aimed at farm youth, and interventions to increase use of hearing conservation strategies, as well as offer a base for developing programs for non-English speaking children.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinicaltrials.gov registration CT02472821. Date of trial registration: 06/09/2015 (retrospectively registered).

Exposure to Perfluoroalkyl Substances in a Cohort of Women Firefighters and Office Workers in San Francisco

Studies of firefighters have shown increased exposures to carcinogenic compounds and elevated rates of certain cancers compared to the general population, yet this research has focused almost exclusively on men. To address this gap, the Women Firefighters Biomonitoring Collaborative created a biological sample archive and analyzed levels of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) among women firefighters (N = 86) and office workers (N = 84) in San Francisco. Serum samples were collected and analyzed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to measure and compare PFAS levels between firefighters and office workers. 7 of 12 PFAS congeners were detected in the least 70% of the study population, and 4 congeners were detected in 100% of participants. In regression models comparing PFAS levels by occupation and adjusting for potential confounders, firefighters had higher geometric mean concentrations of PFAS compared to office workers PFHxS (2.22 (95% CI = 1.55, 3.18)), PFUnDA (1.83 (95% CI = 0.97, 3.45)), and PFNA (1.26 (95% CI = 1.01, 1.58)). Among firefighters, occupational position predicted exposure-firefighters and officers had higher PFNA, PFOA, PFDA, and PFUnDA levels compared to drivers. Women firefighters are exposed to higher levels of some PFAS compared to office workers, suggesting that some of these exposures may be occupationally related.

Psychosocial Work Factors, Job Stress and Strain at the Wheel: Validation of the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ) in Professional Drivers

Introduction

Psychosocial work environment has been related to many negative health outcomes in different workforces. However, evidence in this regard is still limited in the case of transport workers, and most of the tools used in research, often excessively generic, do not fully consider the specific key stressors, and adverse issues present in the psychosocial environment of professional driving.

Objective

Thus, the purpose of this study was to obtain a complete description of the validation of measurement applied to psychosocial factors at work in professional drivers, using the Enterprise version (2018) of COPSOQ-III.

Methods

The data was collected from 726 Spanish professional drivers, and the analyses were conducted using the competitive Confirmatory Factor Analysis or CFA, obtaining basic psychometric properties and an optimized structure for the instrument applied to active transport workers.

Results

The results suggest a clear factorial structure, high factorial weights, internal consistency, and an improved adjustment to the psychosocial conditions of this group, excluding a set of items with low psychometrical adjustment and keeping the five-factor structure of the questionnaire: demands, influence and development, interpersonal relationships and leadership, job insecurity, and strain-effects and outcomes.

Conclusion

Overall, what was found in this study supports the hypothesis that the validated version of COPSOQ in professional drivers, together with complementary information sources specific for their work environment, may have a relevant research value and some important practical implications for the improvement of the occupational safety, and health within the typically vulnerable industry of transportation.

Gender differences in use of hearing protection devices among farm operators

Purpose:

Although farm operators have frequent exposure to hazardous noise and high rates of noise-induced hearing loss, they have low use of hearing protection devices (HPDs). Women represent about one-third of farm operators, and their numbers are climbing. However, among published studies examining use of HPDs in this worker group, none have examined gender-related differences. The purpose of this study was to examine gender-related differences in use of hearing protection and related predictors among farm operators.

Materials and Methods:

Data previously collected at farm shows and by telephone were analyzed using t-tests and generalized linear model with zero inflated negative binomial (ZINB) distribution.

Findings:

The difference in rate of hearing protector use between men and women farm operators was not significant. There was no difference between men and women in most hearing protector-related attitudes and beliefs.

Conclusion:

Although men and women farm operators had similar rates of use of hearing protectors when working in high-noise environments, attitudes about HPD use differed. Specifically, interpersonal role modeling was a predictor of HPD use among women, but not for men. This difference suggests that while farm operators of both genders may benefit from interventions designed to reduce barriers to HPD use (e.g., difficulty communicating with co-workers and hearing warning sounds), farm women have unique needs in relation to cognitive-perceptual factors that predict HPD use. Women farm operators may lack role models for use of HPDs (e.g., in peers and advertising), contributing to their less frequent use of protection.