Changing Health Practices Through Research to Practice Collaboration: The Farm Dinner Theater Experience.

Area of Science:

• Agricultural safety
• Occupational health interventions
• Community-based participatory research

Background:

• Production agriculture is a high-risk occupation, particularly for older farmers who experience disproportionately high fatality rates.
• Previous health and safety interventions have shown limited success in modifying farmer behaviors.
• There is a need for innovative and engaging approaches to improve agricultural health and safety outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate an educational intervention, Farm Dinner Theater (FDT), for farmers aged 45 and older.
• To assess the impact of FDT on participants' health and safety behaviors.
• To explore the potential for community engagement and sustainability of the FDT intervention.

Main Methods:

• Collaborative development of the FDT program by academics and Cooperative Extension agents.
• Implementation of FDT in 8 communities across three states, engaging 573 participants (farmers and families).
• Process evaluation to guide intervention refinement and foster collaborative relationships.

Main Results:

• Over 50% of participants reported making health or safety changes after attending an FDT event.
• Participants found the FDT content realistic, applicable, and conducive to discussion.
• The FDT project fostered a network of community "champions," leading to intervention expansion and sustainability.

Conclusions:

• Farm Dinner Theater is an effective and engaging method for improving health and safety behaviors in agricultural communities.
• Community engagement and collaboration are crucial for the successful translation and sustained implementation of research-based interventions.
• The FDT model has demonstrated scalability, with national recognition and further expansion under local leadership.