Roxanna Kaminski hopes her research will improve the quality of life for families of farmers injured on the job.
Kaminski, who teaches nursing at the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology and works as an operating room nurse in Saskatoon, is interviewing spouses affected by accidents on the farm for her university masters thesis.
She will spend one to two hours interviewing each of the approximately 10 spouses for the thesis due in 2005. Her questions centre on what support services are available, what they find most helpful and what could be done to help others.
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She will ask participants to provide photos to stimulate discussion and trigger memories on how their lives have changed since the accident.
Kaminski said her previous work with the Centre for Agricultural Medicine, now called the Institute of Agricultural, Rural and Environmental Health, gave her valuable information and insight into the plight of injured farmers and their families. She found a need for support groups for spouses.
There are few services in place for the spouse who is central in the farmer’s recovery, rehabilitation and return to work, she said.
“The spouse will have to help with and deal with whatever is to be done at home.”
Kaminski’s work at the centre led to a photographic presentation entitled Off-Guard, which toured several art galleries in 2002 and was designed to create awareness of farm injuries.
She said past research studied how families coped while the farmer was in hospital or compiled data on the prevalence, incidence and causes of farm injuries.
Kaminski hopes her studies will foster further research and new health policies to support farm families.
“For people who go through this in the future, there will be things out there to help them,” said Kaminski.
Study participants will be contacted through the Saskatchewan Abilities Council and the institute.
Those wishing to participate can contact Kaminski at: roxannak
@shaw.ca or phone 306-966-2274.
