An Australian research project will study the link between medication and Alberta farm accidents involving older farmers.
“The chances are, there is a relationship,” said Dr. Steve Voaklander, senior lecturer of epidemiology in the University of Melbourne’s rural health department.
His study will use data lists from Alberta Agriculture, Alberta Health and Blue Cross.
Voaklander said researchers know there is a link between medication and accidental falls and motor vehical accidents in the general population. It seems likely that farmers on medication would also be at a higher risk of injury or death from accidents.
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Agriculture is a unique industry because many people older than 65 still work on farms and ranches.
“They don’t leave the farm. There’s not a lot of retirement.”
In Alberta, about 30 percent of people older than 65 use narcotic pain killers, 20 percent use some form of sleeping medication, and 10 to 15 percent are prescribed anti-psychotic medication.
In the 18-month study, a research assistant will match Alberta Agriculture lists of all Alberta farmers older than 65 with an Alberta Health list of people who have been hurt or died on the farm.
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Results will be compared to Blue Cross files to see if the victims were on medication. In Alberta, anyone older than 65 has medical coverage with Blue Cross.
“It’s quite exciting data linkage research,” said Voaklander, who applied for the research grant while at the University of Alberta.
The injury epidemiologist is continuing his research in Australia, where he is now working.
Voaklander, who grew up on a farm near Boyle, Alta., will circulate the final data to rural family doctors who deal with farm patients.
It may prompt doctors to tell their patients about the dangers of using medication when operating farm machinery or handling livestock.
