Mj. Perry et al., Association of pesticide safety knowledge with beliefs and intentions among farm pesticide applicators, J OCCUP ENV, 42(2), 2000, pp. 187-193
Citations number
23
Categorie Soggetti
Envirnomentale Medicine & Public Health
Journal title
JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE
Although a number of health hazards associated with pesticide exposure have
been well documented, relatively little is known about the knowledge and h
ealth beliefs that may influence pesticide handling: This study measured kn
owledge levels concerning pesticide safety and precautionary handling among
applicators and examined relationships between knowledge scores and intent
ions to use handling precautions, perceptions of pesticide safety peer norm
s, and perceived self-efficacy to prevent personal exposure. Telephone inte
rviews were conducted with a randomly selected sample of 164 dairy farmers
who were pesticide applicators residing in Wisconsin (response rate = 77.4%
). The percentage of correct responses to 18 knowledge items ranged from 10
0% to 45.7%. Knowledge levels were positively related to intentions, belief
s, and self-efficacy regarding use of personal protective gear but were not
significantly related to risk perceptions and peer norms concerning pestic
ide safety.