Abstract
Aim
The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of educational interventions aimed at agricultural workers’ knowledge, behaviour, and risk perception for reducing the risk of pesticide exposure.
Method
All studies published in the English language between the years 2000 and 2020 were screened on relevant databases. The study protocol was registered on PROSPERO. Randomised controlled studies (RCTs) and quasi-experimental studies meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria according to the PICOS criteria were included. In line with the PRISMA flow diagram, 38 studies were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. Risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane risk-of-bias assessment tool. A random-effects model was applied and Hedge’s g was used to calculate effect size.
Findings
Five of the included studies are RCTs, two are cluster RCTs, 17 are quasi-experimental studies with experimental and control groups, and 14 have single-group pretest–posttest study designs. Educational interventions had a large effect on knowledge level (Hedge’s g = 0.890), a medium effect on behaviour level (Hedge’s g = 0.707), and a small effect on risk perception (Hedge’s g = 0.377). No publication bias was detected. The largest effect of educational interventions on both knowledge and behaviour levels belonged to studies grounded on a theoretical basis and carried out between the years 2011 and 2020.
Conclusion
It was determined that educational interventions are an appropriate method for reducing the pesticide exposure risks of agricultural workers. To increase the effectiveness of these interventions, it is recommended that consideration is given to a theoretical basis, the use of multiple education components, and evidence-based practices.
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Availability of data and materials
The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Abbreviations
- CIs:
-
Confidence intervals
- CBPR:
-
Community-based participatory research
- IPM:
-
Integrated pesticide management
- FFS:
-
Farmer field schools
- PRISMA:
-
Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis
- r :
-
Number of studies
- r:
-
Effect size
- Q :
-
Cochran’s Q test
- Q b :
-
QBetween test
- RCT:
-
Randomised controlled trial
- PPE:
-
Personal protective equipment
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DA and SÖ contributed to the conception and design of the study, interpretation of data, and drafting. SÖ contributed to the acquisition of data, interpretation of data, and drafting the article. DA and EK contributed to analysis and interpretation of data. DA performed a major role contributor in writing the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Ayaz, D., Öncel, S. & Karadağ, E. The effectiveness of educational interventions aimed at agricultural workers’ knowledge, behaviour, and risk perception for reducing the risk of pesticide exposure: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 95, 1167–1178 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-022-01838-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-022-01838-8