Differences in Farmer's Syndrome between Greenhouse-Melon Farmers and Rice Farmers

Park, Jong Seup; Oh, Gyung Jae

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.