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Abstract

Background: Farm injuries account for a large percentage of work place injuries in Ireland annually. The purpose of this study was to investigate perceived changes in occupational identity, competence and the environment following a farm related injury. Method: A qualitative research design adopting a phenomenological approach was used to guide the study. The occupational performance history interview (OPHI-II) was used to derive the narrative from participants. Six farmers who had experienced a farm accident were selected from two recruitment sources. The purposive sampling technique ?maximum variation? was used to select participants. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data and resulted in the identification of five themes. Conclusions: There are implications for public policy related to an urgent need for financial, informational and rehabilitative supports for farmers living and working with permanent disabilities arising from farm accidents.

Biography

Laura Kate Reilly has just completed abachelor degree in Occupational Therapy at the National University of Ireland, Galway where she received first class honors. As part of her degree specifications she has carried out a qualitative study investigating the impact of a farming accident on a farmer from an occupational therapy perspective. This is the first research of its kind from an Irish context and she hopes to pursue a PhD in this area of farming accidents and occupational therapy input.