Morgane Bresson (post-doctorante, ANTICIPE, Université de Caen Normandie), Cécile Sénémeaud (PR, LPCN, Université de Caen Normandie), Isabelle Baldi (PR, EPICENE, INSERM HBP, Université Bordeaux), Yonna Moreau (psychologue, ANTICIPE, Université de Caen Normandie), Themistoklis Apostolidis (PR, LPS, Aix Marseille Université), Pierre Lebailly (MC, ANTICIPE, Université de Caen Normandie), ont publié un nouvel article dans la revue Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
Bresson, M., Sénémeaud, C., Baldi, I., Moreau, Y., Apostolidis, T., & Lebailly, P. (2026). Reducing occupational exposure to pesticides: understanding the preventive behaviours of French farmers. Occupational and Environmental Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2025-110516
Abstract
Objective Preventing farmers’ exposure to pesticides is a major public health issue. However, research on farmers’ practices, particularly in high-income countries, rarely explores the combined role of sociodemographic, occupational and psychosocial factors or considers behaviours beyond the use of personal protective equipment. This study investigated pesticide risk prevention behaviours among French farmers, focusing on agricultural specialisation (ie, the main production on the farm), individual characteristics and key psychosocial determinants. Methods A comprehensive telephone survey conducted among French winegrowers or grower-breeders probed their pesticide knowledge, psychological constructs (attitudes and perceptions, social norms and control) and individual and occupational factors. Associations with three preventive behaviours were studied separately by logistic regression. Results 162 male farmers were surveyed (median age 50, 74% with high school education), including 99 grower-breeders and 63 winegrowers, with differences in farm size, labour structure and employment status. Preventive measures were not implemented systematically: 59% wore gloves, 65% washed their hands and 45% read hazard information on labels. Agricultural specialisation was a major factor influencing behaviour as well as psychosocial determinants (self-efficacy, perceived barriers and social norms). In contrast, sociodemographic factors and knowledge levels had little effect. Conclusion The adoption of pesticide risk prevention behaviours remains limited over time, even in high-income countries. Our study demonstrates that (1) behaviours relying on distinct determinants should be analysed separately, (2) agricultural specialisation is a major factor influencing behaviours and (3) psychosocial variables play a predominant role in behaviour adoption. This appraisal is crucial for designing an appropriate intervention targeting French farmers.
Il est consultable via ce lien : https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2025-110516. Celui-ci a été publié dans la revue Occupational and Environmental Medicine (IF : 3.2), une revue médicale scientifique internationale de premier plan, évaluée par les pairs (peer-reviewed). Elle publie mensuellement des travaux de recherche consacrés à la médecine du travail et à la santé environnementale.
Cécile Sénémeaud est directrice du LPCN et professeure de psychologie sociale à l’université de Caen Normandie. Elle coordonne le programme de recherche PROECO. Ses travaux de recherche portent sur la compréhension et l’accompagnement du changement, dans le domaine du développement durable, de la transition écologique et de la santé publique. Elle est aussi membre du Giec normand, et chargée des apports psychologiques.
