Factors Influencing Farmers's Use of Hearing Protectors

农民暴露在设备和牲畜的有害噪音中，与非农业年龄组相比，噪音引起的听力损失率更高。虽然听力保护装置（HPD）的使用可以有效预防噪声性听力损失（NIHL），但农民使用率很低。该研究计划的目的是通过增加HPD的使用来预防农民的NIHL。早期的一项研究确定了使用HPD的预测因素，但没有使用随机样本，因此限制了普遍性。拟议的研究将使用类似的方法，随机选择基于人口的农民样本，以确定影响农民使用HPD的因素。本研究的具体目标是：1）确定农民使用HPD的预测因素; 2）描述农民在以下方面的个人经历：a）成功成为HPD使用者，B）影响他人使用HPD，以及c）克服使用HPD的障碍。这项研究将分两个阶段进行。首先，采用描述性相关设计，选取代表性样本，确定影响农民使用听力保护器的因素。这一阶段的研究涉及开发和测试一个假设模型的HPD使用农民通过电话管理的调查工具。第二，对农民进行一系列有目的的抽样采访，以获得农民关于如何影响农民使用HPD的意见。UDSA统计处、区域生产者组织和国家发展支助股之间的伙伴关系将为实现研究目标提供一种有效的方法。研究结果将用于为未来的研究奠定基础，旨在开发和测试一种基于预测的干预措施，旨在增加HPD的使用，并降低农民的NIHL率。

Farmers are exposed to hazardous noise from equipment and livestock, and experience higher rates of noise-induced hearing loss than their non-farming age cohorts. Although use of hearing protection devices (HPDs) is effective in preventing noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), their use among farmers is low. The purpose of this program of research is to prevent NIHL in farmers through increasing use of HPDs. An earlier study identified predictors of use of HPDs but did not use a random sample, thus limiting generalizability. The proposed study will use similar methods with a randomly selected, population-based sample of farmers to identify factors that affect farmers' use of HPDs. The specific aims to be addressed in this study are to 1) Identify the predictors of HPD use among farmers; and 2) Describe farmers' personal experiences in a) successfully becoming HPD users, b) influencing others' use of HPDs, and c) overcoming barriers to the use of HPDs. This study will be conducted in two phases. First, a descriptive correlational design will be used with a representative sample to identify factors related to farmers' use of hearing protection. This phase of the study involves developing and testing a hypothesized model of HPD use among farmers through telephone administration of a survey instrument. Second, a series of interviews with a purposive sample of farmers will gain input from farmers about ways to influence farmers' use of HPDs. A partnership of the UDSA Statistics Service, regional organizations of producers, and NDSU will provide an effective approach to accomplish study aims. Findings will be used to form the foundation for future studies aimed at developing and testing a predictors-based intervention designed to increase HPD use and to decrease rates of NIHL among farmers.