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Clinical Trial
. 2004 Oct;94(10):1743-9.
doi: 10.2105/ajph.94.10.1743.

Impact of a national rural youth health and safety initiative: results from a randomized controlled trial

Barbara C Lee  1 , James D Westaby, Richard L Berg
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Impact of a national rural youth health and safety initiative: results from a randomized controlled trial

Barbara C Lee et al. Am J Public Health. 2004 Oct.

Abstract

Objectives: We conducted a comprehensive evaluation of a rural youth health and safety initiative implemented in 4000 National FFA (formerly Future Farmers of America) chapters across the United States.

Methods: Data were collected from high school students and their FFA advisers at 3 time intervals (preintervention, immediate postintervention, and 1 year postintervention) with a 3-group (standard, enhanced, and control), cluster-randomized, controlled trial design.

Results: Matched data from 3081 students and 81 advisers revealed no significant effect of this initiative on agricultural health and safety knowledge, safety attitudes, leadership, self-concept, and self-reported injuries of project participants. Data from 30 public health nurses following the intervention confirmed the program's failure to develop sustainable community partnerships.

Conclusions: This nationally coordinated initiative was funded with more than $1 million donated by agribusinesses. Program implementation was inconsistent, and desired outcomes were not achieved. Future efforts should better guide effective use of private sector resources aimed at reducing agricultural disease and injury among rural youths.

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Figures

FIGURE 1—
FIGURE 1—
Flow diagram of study participants. Note. Study participants provided self-generated, anonymous identification codes on their survey forms, allowing data to be matched at different time intervals. aFFA advisers matched from preintervention to postintervention data. b Students matched from preintervention to postintervention data. c FFA advisers matched across preintervention, postintervention, and postintervention 2 data. d Students matched across preintervention, postintervention, and postintervention 2 data.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. National FFA Web site. Frequently Asked FFA Questions. Available at: http://www.ffa.org/media/documents/ffa_med_faqs.pdf. Accessed April 20, 2004.
    1. National FFA Web site. About. Available at: http://www.ffa.org/about_ffa/index.html. Accessed August 18, 2004.
    1. Tevis C, Finck C. We kill too many farm kids. Success Farm. 1989;87(3):18A–18P.
    1. National Committee for Childhood Agricultural Injury Prevention. Children and Agriculture: Opportunities for Safety and Health. Marshfield, Wisc: Marshfield Clinic, 1996. Also available at: http://research.marshfieldclinic.org/children/action/title.htm. Accessed April 20, 2004.
    1. Teaching Agricultural Safety to Kids. Springfield, Ill: Illinois Easter Seal Society; 1996.

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