Evaluation of Hearing Loss in Farmworkers, Texas- Mexico Border Area

德克萨斯州-墨西哥边境地区农场工人听力损失评估

• 批准号: 7321253
• 负责人: MARTHA S S VELA ACOSTA
• 金额: $ 10.8万
• 依托单位: UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCI CTR HOUSTON
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2007
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2007-09-01 至 2010-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/7321253
• 关键词: Evaluation; Hearing; Loss; Farmworkers; Texas

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Occupational hearing loss is the most common occupational disease in the United States. It affects all workers regardless of age, gender, or industrial sector. Noise-induced hearing loss is 100 percent preventable and once acquired it is an irreversible disability. Hearing loss may cause professional and financial difficulties leading to social isolation and stigmatization. Agriculture work has been associated with a high prevalence of hearing loss, both in adults and youth. Farmworkers directly associated with intense field work and transport activities, are potentially at risk for developing hearing loss. METHODS: To determine, for the first time, the magnitude of the problem of hearing loss in farmworker populations, which could lead to the design of appropriate hearing conservation programs. This goal will be achieved thorough use of a valid, Spanish survey instrument that is economically and logistically practical for use in investigations of hearing ability in a disadvantaged population: Spanish -speaking farmworkers. A population based study of farmworkers (n = 448) will assess their hearing morbidity and their occupational risk factors based on interviews and audiometric testing. Data analysis will include demographics, work history, noise and pesticide exposures, self medication, and the Spanish version of the Hearing Ability Survey (HAS). The strength of associations between hearing loss risks factors will be evaluated as the crude and adjusted odds ratio (OR) and corresponding 95% corresponding confidence intervals. Significant factors will be used with logistic regression to predict hearing loss (z. 25db). EXPECTED OUTCOMES: Preventive strategies will be formulated for hearing conservation and prevention programs among Spanish speaking farmworkers based on this study. Occupational hazards associated with hearing loss and knowledge of the specific tasks encountered by these workers will be used to develop a plan of action to target interventions for this population. In addition, all participants in this study will receive information and education about personal protective equipment (PPE) and hearing loss and their perceptions regarding use of PPE will be assessed. CAREER DEVELOPMENT AWARD: The Principal Investigator (PI) will assess the prevalence of hearing loss among farm workers; develop a cost-effective means of evaluating hearing loss and to propose prevention strategies in a Spanish speaking farmworker population. PI will expand her competences and expertise in the areas of epidemiology, statistics and hearing conservation. RELEVANCE: This research responds to the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) mixed exposures research agenda by addressing health concerns in agriculture under the sector-specific approach. And addresses under previous NORA research priority areas: Hearing loss under Disease and Injury; farm workers who are a special population underwork and Environment; and improved tracking of occupational diseases by the development of a valid bilingual instrument for estimating hearing loss of farm workers under Research Tools and Approaches.

描述（由申请人提供）：职业性听力损失是美国最常见的职业病。它影响到所有工人，不分年龄、性别或行业。噪声性听力损失是100%可以预防的，一旦获得，它是一种不可逆转的残疾。听力损失可能会导致专业和经济困难，导致社会孤立和污名化。农业工作与成年人和青年人听力损失的高患病率有关。与高强度的野外工作和运输活动直接相关的农场工人有可能患上听力损失。方法：首次确定农场工人听力损失问题的严重程度，这可能导致设计适当的听力保护计划。这一目标将通过使用一种有效的西班牙语调查工具来实现，这种工具在经济和后勤上都是可行的，可用于调查处境不利人口的听力：讲西班牙语的农场工人。一项基于人口的研究，农场工人（n = 448）将评估他们的听力发病率和职业危险因素的基础上访谈和听力测试。数据分析将包括人口统计学、工作史、噪音和农药暴露、自我用药和西班牙语版听力调查（HAS）。听力损失风险因素之间的关联强度将被评估为粗比值比和调整后比值比（OR）以及相应的95%置信区间。显著因素将与逻辑回归一起用于预测听力损失（z。25db）。预期结果：根据本研究，将制定听力保护和预防计划的西班牙语农场工人的预防策略。将利用与听力损失有关的职业危害和对这些工人所面临的具体任务的了解来制定一项行动计划，以针对这一人群采取干预措施。此外，本研究的所有参与者将接受有关个人防护设备（PPE）和听力损失的信息和教育，并评估他们对PPE使用的看法。职业发展奖：首席研究员（PI）将评估农场工人听力损失的患病率;开发一种具有成本效益的方法来评估听力损失，并提出讲西班牙语的农场工人人群的预防策略。PI将扩大她在流行病学，统计学和听力保护领域的能力和专业知识。相关性：这项研究响应国家职业研究议程（诺拉）的混合接触研究议程，根据具体部门的方法解决农业健康问题。并根据以前的诺拉研究优先领域的地址：听力损失的疾病和伤害;农场工人谁是一个特殊的人群，工作不足和环境;和改善跟踪职业病的有效双语工具的开发，估计听力损失的农场工人的研究工具和方法。