Cooling Interventions Among Agricultural Workers: A Randomized Pilot Study Open Access
Chicas, Roxana (Spring 2020)
Abstract
Background: Adverse health effects among agricultural workers due to chronic heat exposure have been characterized in the literature as not only due to high ambient temperatures but also due to intensive manual labor in hot and humid conditions. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the average annual heat-related death rate among agricultural workers is nearly 20 times greater than that of the overall US workforce. This study builds on the GirasolesStudy, initiated in 2014 in partnership with the Farmworker Association of Florida (FWAF) in response to the Florida agricultural community’s ongoing concerns about the impact of chronic heat exposure on their health.
Methods: In April-May of 2018 and 2019 we conducted pilot studies in Florida, to examine workplace personal cooling gear interventions that could prevent HRI. A sample of 84 agricultural workers in Florida were randomized to 1 of 4 groups: 1) no intervention, clothing as usual; 2) cooling bandana; 3) cooling vest; and 4) both the cooling bandana and cooling vest. Biomonitoring equipment worn by the participants included core body temperature and heart rate monitor belts, and an accelerometer to capture physical activity.
Results: A total of 78 agricultural workers completed one intervention workday. Core body temperature differences were observed; the bandana group had 38% of participants exceeded 38.0°C, followed by 46% in the control group, 53% in combination group, and the vest group had the highest proportion with 60%. Logistic regression analysis revealed the bandana group had lower odds of exceeding a core body temperature of 38.0°C (OR 0.7, CI90 [0.2, 3.2]) and the vest group had higher odds of exceeding 38.0°C (OR 1.8, CI90 [0.4, 7.9). The use of both the cooling vest and bandana (combination group) showed the effect was little different from the control group (OR 1.3, CI90 [0.3, 5.6].
Conclusion: This is the first field-based study to pilot cooling intervention among agricultural workers in the US using biomonitoring equipment. This study found that agricultural workers that used a bandana while working in a hot environment has the potential to be protective against exceeding a core body temperature of 38.0°C.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction 1
Problem Statement 1
Aims of Study 3
Background 4
Conceptual Framework 7
Chapter Two: Systematic Review 10
Abstract 10
Introduction 11
Methods 13
Results 14
Discussion 28
Conclusion 32
Chapter Three: Randomized Pilot Results 37
Abstract 37
Introduction 38
Methods 41
Results 46
Discussion 53
Conclusion 56
Chapter Four: Qualitative Pilot Results 57
Abstract 57
Introduction 58
Methods 60
Results 62
Discussion 69
Conclusion 73
Chapter Five: Summary of Results and Conclusion 74
Clinical Implications 77
Research Implications. 78
Limitations 78
Conclusion 79
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