Differences in Farmer's Syndrome between Greenhouse-Melon Farmers and Rice Farmers.
- Author:
Jong Seup PARK
1
;
Gyung Jae OH
Author Information
1. Department of Preventive Medicine, Wonkwang University Medical School, Korea. pmokj@wku.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Farmer;
Greenhouse;
Melon;
Rice;
Musculoskeletal
- MeSH:
Cucurbitaceae;
Low Back Pain;
Prevalence;
Rural Population;
Shoulder Pain;
Surveys and Questionnaires;
Urination
- From:Journal of Agricultural Medicine & Community Health
2008;33(1):27-36
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to evaluate the differences in Farmer's syndrome between greenhouse-melon farmers and rice farmers. METHODS: The study included 160 residents, who lived in rural community. Of those subjects, 73 and 87 subjects were assigned to the greenhouse-melon farmers and rice farmers. Data collection was conducted from June 1 to July 30, 2006. Respondents were interviewed by means of a structured questionnaire. RESULTS: This study showed that greenhouse-melon farmers had a lower average age, shorter experience of farming, more working hours per day than rice farmers (p<0.05). Prevalence of the Farmer's syndrome in greenhouse-melon farmers was 38.4% respectively, the prevalence in rice farmers was 22.6%. There was statistically significant difference in the prevalence of Farmer's syndrome between greenhouse-melon and rice farmers (p<0.05). The most frequent symptoms among eight symptoms that constitute the Farmer's syndrome were lumbago, shoulder pain and nocturnal urination regardless of type of farming. But greenhouse-melon farmers had higher prevalence of muskuloskeletal symptoms, such as lumbago and shoulder pain, than rice farmers (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results showed that prevalence of Farmer's syndrome was more common in the greenhouse-melon farmers than rice farmers. Therefore we should give a special attention to develop farming tools which reduce physical burden and take a rest and exercise periodically during work in the greenhouse-melon farmers.
