A Phenomenological Study of Farmers’ or Ranchers’ Quality of Life Perceptions Who Have
Conditions of Aging, Chronic Health Issues, or Disability
Geneva Nolan MOTS & Myra Peel MOTS
Research Advisor: Carla Wilhite OTD, OTR/L
Background
Methods
A person's perception of their health and how it impacts their
ability to participate in chosen occupations may shape their
perceived quality of life (QoL). The recommendations a
healthcare provider makes with the intention of improving
health or preventing decline may include advice relating to
participation in occupation. Therefore, it is important for
healthcare providers to understand the lifestyle, beliefs, and
values of the populations they treat. With this information,
healthcare workers will be better able to assess QoL and as a
result make valid and meaningful recommendations to improve
health and wellbeing.
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to collect data from farmers and
ranchers who have conditions of aging, chronic health issues, or
disabilities and how they perceive their QoL. The data will be
used to describe the phenomenological perceptions of health
and quality of life among our sample of farmers and ranchers.
Age
Twelve codes were established to organize the data by topic :
-Advice to other farmers/ranchers
-Beliefs about the future
-Barriers to preferred occupations
-Communication with healthcare provider
-Reasons for becoming a farmer/rancher
-Perception of own health
-Changes that have occurred
-Issues with aging, chronic health
on the farm/ranch
conditions, and aging
-Description of quality of life
-Description of daily life
-Value about farming/ranching
-Do not value about
farming/ranching
Six recurring themes from the coded data were identified and agreed upon:
-Participation in farming and ranching improves health
-Relationship with nature is valued
-Adaptation is necessary for success
-The farm/ranch is an ideal environment to raise a family
-Independence supports quality of life
-Farming & ranching is tied to identity
Participation in farming & ranching improves health:
"We have always been striving for something all the time and that is what keeps you going and keeps you healthy." Joe, 70
Table 1: Demographics
Pseudonym
Raising crops
Results
“If I really get bad health I’ll be forced to quit, but we’re physically in fairly decent shape and I like what I’m doing, and I feel if I keep doing it
I’m gonna stay healthier.” Nathan, 72
Demographics
Gender
Location
Primary
Agricultural
Production
Aging
Issues
Chronic
Health
Issues
Disability
Issues
Michael
37
M
ND
F-Grain
NO
NO
YES
Sam
54
M
NM
R-Cattle
NO
YES
NO
Lou
54
M
NM
F-Hay
NO
YES
NO
Chris
58
M
NM
R-Cattle
NO
YES
NO
Curtis
65
M
NM
R-Cattle
NO
YES
NO
Cathy
65
F
NM
R-Livestock
YES
NO
NO
Joe
70
M
ND
R-Cattle
NO
YES
NO
Nathan
72
M
ND
F-Grain
NO
YES
NO
Gene
75
M
NM
F-Organic
Produce
NO
YES
NO
Independence supports quality of life:
“I’ve been very lucky throughout my life. I’ve done a lot of different things and uh, I never did find anything that was as satisfying as being
out here, by yourself.” John, 80
“…to me, {quality of life} is just that you don’t have to be under medication or doctors care and you can kind of do what you want to” Bill, 75
Adaptation is necessary for success:
“I go to classes in the winter time cause there wasn’t much to do...try and learn something. More about the chemicals and so on, so you can
put that to use in the summertime.” Roger, 83
“{My amputation} affects probably anything I would say. Everything a person does, you have to change….The year I had the injury...I had the
switches on the floor or buttons to raise and lower the header, and raise and lower the reel. Then I did the same thing in the swather, hay
machine...” Michael, 37
Farming & ranching is tied to identity:
Bill
75
M
WY
R-Cattle
NO
YES
NO
David
77
M
WY
F-Hay
YES
YES
YES
John
80
M
WY
R-Cattle
NO
YES
NO
Roger
83
M
ND
F-Grain
NO
YES
YES
F= farm R= ranch
Caring for
animals
Thirteen farmers and ranchers who have conditions of aging, chronic health issues, or disabilities participated in semi-structured qualitative interviews to
learn more about their perceptions of quality of life in the context of agriculture. Participants were discovered through contacts in agricultural organizations.
Each interview was recorded, transcribed, coded, and analyzed using an inductive and deductive (integrated) thematic approach.
"I want to be out there in it. I don’t do it for the money, I do it because I'm a farmer I guess." Roger, 83
"Well, if you're not into getting rich, you can’t beat it. I'm not very good at explaining it; I wouldn’t have it any other way. It's surely in my
heart." David, 77
"I was born into this so I really...don't know anything else. I've started some other businesses...I think I could get by without farming...but
my soul's tied to the dirt." Sam, 54
• Sense of
accomplishment
• Awe
• Reciprocal
• Commitment
• Protecting life
Prefer farm/ranch to
city
• City: problems
• Debt
• Disconnected from
nature
• Ignorance
Valued
relationship
with nature
Working the land
• Stewardship
• Sensory experience
• Smell of the dirt
• Dirt under your
fingernails
Unpredictable force
• Divine
• Drought
• Impacts QOL
• Financial security
Conclusion
The themes discovered in this research hold important
implications for practice with this population.
•
Farmers and Ranchers who are determined to continue to
work on their land as long as possible should be encouraged to
make adaptations for safety.
•
The occupations of farming and ranching are believed to
be health promoting by this population and should be utilized
when treating these individuals.
•
Respect the value of farming and ranching and how the
activities involved contribute to health and wellbeing.
•
Health care providers should use a strength-based
approach to promote independence and provide services that
are meaningful.
•
Farming and Ranching is more than an occupation for
these participants; it is a way of living and is tied to identity.
Assessment of QoL should be conducted based on this lifestyle,
unique living and working context, and the factors that impact it.
References
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Image: https://earthstonestation.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/new-mexico007.jpg