Effectiveness of a Planned Teaching Programme on Knowledge Regarding Farmer’s Lung and Its Prevention Among Farmers in Rural Odisha, India: A Pre-Experimental Study
Keywords:
farmer’s lung; hypersensitivity pneumonitis; farmers; occupational health; organic dust; health education; respiratory health; rural India; knowledge; community health nursingAbstract
Background
Agricultural workers are routinely exposed to organic dust, moulds, fungi, microbial bioaerosols, and other respiratory hazards. Farmer’s lung is an occupational form of hypersensitivity pneumonitis associated with repeated inhalation of antigenic material from mouldy hay, grain, and other agricultural products. Although exposure reduction is central to prevention, awareness of occupational respiratory hazards among farming communities may be limited. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a structured planned teaching programme on knowledge regarding farmer’s lung and its prevention among farmers in rural Odisha, India.
Methods
An evaluative, one-group pretest–post-test study was conducted among 100 farmers from Madhiapali Village, Balangir District, Odisha, India, from October 7 to October 27, 2024. Participants were selected using systematic random sampling. Baseline demographic characteristics and knowledge regarding farmer’s lung were assessed using a structured 30-item knowledge questionnaire. A planned teaching programme covering disease concepts, occupational exposure, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, prevention, and basic management was subsequently delivered. A post-test was conducted on the eighth day. Descriptive statistics, paired t-test, and chi-square test were used for analysis.
Results
At baseline, 86 participants (86.0%) had inadequate knowledge and 14 (14.0%) had moderate knowledge; none had adequate knowledge. The mean pretest knowledge score was 11.54 ± 3.97 out of 30 (38.4%). Following the intervention, the mean score increased to 18.60 ± 5.24 (62.0%), representing a mean gain of 7.06 points. The difference between pretest and post-test scores was statistically significant (paired t = 20.21, p < 0.001). At post-test, 28 participants (28.0%) had inadequate knowledge, 56 (56.0%) had moderate knowledge, and 16 (16.0%) had adequate knowledge. Baseline knowledge was significantly associated with educational qualification and monthly income.
Conclusion
The planned teaching programme was associated with a significant improvement in knowledge regarding farmer’s lung and its prevention. Community-based occupational respiratory health education may be a feasible component of preventive health services for farming populations. However, controlled studies with larger samples and longer follow-up are required to determine whether improvements in knowledge translate into sustained exposure-reduction practices and improved respiratory health.
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