Dr. Julie Postma, Professor in the Department of Nursing and Systems Science and the Associate Dean for Research at Washington State University College of Nursing, joined NINR Director Dr. Shannon Zenk for a discussion on the application of NINR's research lenses to climate change and health research. Dr. Postma presented an overview of her research on the significance of heat trends and wildfire smoke for agricultural workers, with a focus on social determinants of health and the role of nursing research in influencing protective occupational health policy and practice.
During the 60-year period from 1961-2021, heat wave frequency and duration increased significantly in the U.S., leading to more large wildfires. These changes are causing worsening air quality throughout the country and affecting the health of agricultural workers, who often lack protections from outdoor conditions and are unable to access healthcare, adequate housing, and indoor climate control.
Dr. Postma studies the climate- and health-related experiences of agricultural workers in Washington state to understand structural inequalities and the effects of recently implemented state wildfire smoke rules. Using community-based research methods, Dr. Postma’s team conducts interviews with agricultural workers, supervisors, and employers to learn about air quality knowledge and training, as well as workers’ beliefs about their rights and protections related to working conditions. Results from the study show the need for training on and enforcement of wildfire smoke rules, better communication, symptom recognition and response planning, and workplace safety advocacy and policy.
Video Highlights
- Introduction, Overview, and Climate Change Trends
0:00: Dr. Zenk’s opening remarks and speaker introduction
5:08: Lecture objectives
5:29: Nationwide trends in heat waves, wildfires, and air quality
8:17: Climate justice in nursing
9:06: Overview of research program on climate change and health in agricultural workplaces
- Agricultural Worker Employment Trends and Inequities
9:53: Agricultural worker employment trends 2002-2022
10:18: Structural inequalities and federal labor laws
15:46: Climate-related hazards in agriculture
17:27: Washington state wildfire smoke rule
- Study Design, Recruitment, and Data Collection
18:25: Conceptual frameworks for Dr. Postma’s research
19:01: Farmworker Coalition
20:32: Agricultural worker recruitment/data collection
- Study Findings and Next Steps
21:42: Themes from agricultural worker interviews
24:07: Employer/manager perspectives
27:18: Study implications/next steps
29:34: Field supervisor perspectives/plans for next phase of research
30:29: Dissemination
- Acknowledgements, Funding Opportunity, and Q&A
33:16: Funding acknowledgements
33:42: Funding opportunity
37:33: Q&A
