Impact of Training on Addressing Farmer Mental Health in Occupational Therapy Practice.
Erin Morley, Diane Rohlman, Marsha Cheyney and 1 others
PMID 39286954WHAT IT FOUND
After a 45-minute training on farmer mental health, occupational therapists and students reported feeling more confident in screening and supporting these patients.
Most participants said they were likely to address these issues in future practice, though the study measured only self-reported confidence.
Key findings
01Participants reported significantly increased confidence in addressing farmer mental health, screening for concerns, and providing community resources after the training.
02The majority of occupational therapy practitioners reported prior to training that they did not currently address farmer mental health in their practice.
03Post-training, most participants reported being somewhat or extremely likely to address farmer mental health in their future practice.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study was a pilot with a small sample size recruited from specific Midwest states and a conference, limiting generalizability. Data was unpaired, so researchers could not track individual changes in confidence, only group-level shifts. The study measured only self-reported confidence and intent, not actual clinical behavior or patient outcomes. No demographic data was collected, so it is unclear if participants already worked with farming populations. The survey was short (3-5 questions), which may have oversimplified complex attitudes toward mental health integration.
Declared interests
The research was supported by N.I.H. (Extramural). The study was conducted as part of a doctoral experiential component project, which may have influenced recruitment and design constraints.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the increased self-reported confidence as evidence that the training improves patient mental health outcomes or changes actual clinical practice. The study measured only how participants felt after a short educational session, not whether they applied these skills or if farmers benefited.