Agriculture for Life: A Guide for Health Promotion and Participation for Farmers with Health Challenges

Abstract

Agriculture for Life is an online product of health promotion content for farmers, ranchers, and their family members who are impacted by issues of disability, chronic health conditions, and aging. The process of developing the content is described. The author team began by using an action research method developed for creating consumer health information and the process was initiated by gathering of data to identify the information needs of Oklahoma farmers and ranchers with health concerns or disability status. After the needs assessment, selected searches of the research literature were conducted to ascertain the best levels of evidence for online programing, including finding examples of online programs with outcome data and use of adult learning theory. The prefacing work of content creation was initiated by reviewing key documents related to web accessibility, design conventions, and online ethics. The article describes the systematic process of creating the online product.

KEYWORDS:

• Online health promotion
• agricultural health
• farmers with disability
• internet health promtion

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Dr. Jan Johnson-Oklahoma State University-Family and Consumer Science for support in editing and preparing the final Agriculture for Life Product. We also thank a number of occupational therapy graduate students for assistance in preparing content related to the project: Vanessa Ochs, Sarah Sutherlin, Ramona Yazzie of the University of New Mexico and Greg Holubuk and Andrea Hensrud of the University of North Dakota.

Disclosure statement

There are no other declarations or conflicts to address in submitting this paper.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported in part by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Institute of Food & Agriculture; Grant # 2010-41590-20754: OK AgrAbility.

Notes on contributors

Carla Sue Wilhite

Carla Sue Wilhite, OTD, OTR/L ([email protected]) is Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy Division, University of New Mexico-School of Medicine, 1 University of New Mexico, HSSB Room 140, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87131. She is a co-principal investigator of the New Mexico AgrAbility Project and former Project Manager of the Oklahoma and Colorado AgrAbility Projects. Telephone: (1*) (505)(272-3324).

Mary Linda Jaco

Mary Linda Jaco, MEd ([email protected]) is Associate Director of Sponsored Programs, Oklahoma State University-Seretean Wellness Center, 1514 W. Hall of Fame, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 74074. Telephone: (1*) (405) (744-5182).

Cynthia Chavez

Cynthia Chavez, MOT, OTR/L, ([email protected]) formerly a graduate student, Occupational Therapy Division, University of New Mexico-School of Medicine, 1 University of New Mexico, HSSB Room 140, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87131. Telephone: (1*) (505)(272-3324). Ms. Chavez is currently in practice as an occupational therapist in New Mexico.

Celicia Perez

Celicia Perez, MOT, OTR/L, ([email protected]) formerly a graduate student, Occupational Therapy Division, University of New Mexico-School of Medicine, 1 University of New Mexico, HSSB Room 140, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87131. Ms. Perez is currently in practice as an occupational therapist in New Mexico Telephone: (1*) (505)(272-3324).

Maceala Gomez

Maceala Gomez, MOT, OTR/L ([email protected]) formerly a graduate student, Occupational Therapy Division, University of New Mexico-School of Medicine, 1 University of New Mexico, HSSB Room 140, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87131. Ms. Gomez is currently in practice as a rural-based occupational therapist in New Mexico Telephone: (1*) (505)(272-3324).

Timothy A. Neugebauer

Timothy A. Neugebauer, MOT, OTR/L ([email protected]) formerly a graduate student, Occupational Therapy Division, University of New Mexico-School of Medicine, 1 University of New Mexico, HSSB Room 140, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87131. Mr. Neugebauer is currently in practice as an occupational therapist in New Mexico. Telephone: (1*) (505)(272-3324).