{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,15]],"date-time":"2026-05-15T18:17:37Z","timestamp":1778869057578,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":37,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,15]],"date-time":"2026-05-15T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1778803200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100010747","name":"Consejo Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnolog\u00c3a e Innovaci\u00c3\u00b3n Tecnol\u00c3\u00b3gica","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["PE501090201-2024-PROCIENCIA-BM"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["PE501090201-2024-PROCIENCIA-BM"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100010747","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"name":"Alianzas Interinstitucionales para Programas de Doctorado","award":["PE501084306-2023-PROCIENCIA-BM"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["PE501084306-2023-PROCIENCIA-BM"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS One"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Peruvian Andean agriculture primarily consists of subsistence activities that rely on traditional methods. Rural farmers use locally made hand tools, often designed without technical or ergonomic considerations, increasing the risk of musculoskeletal disorders. This study examined farmers\u2019 views, needs, barriers, and support in hand tool design, and how they assess satisfaction with tools during potato harvesting. A qualitative study using a phenomenological design was conducted using semi-structured interviews with 13 rural farmers from Yanaca, Apur\u00edmac, Peru. A total of 25 interviews were conducted, audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed via a mixed coding strategy. Data was organized using a thematic approach and triangulated to validate coding. The results from the first guide were organized into five themes: task, human, product, qualitative and environmental. Some aspects such as social and techniques aspects for adopting hand tools emerged as well as enablers like economic accessibility, similarity to traditional tools. Six themes emerged from second guide covering tools conditions for efficient use, pre-work preparation, evaluation of the tool, consequences of a deficient tool, accumulated experience and appropriation; and family and gender dynamics. We found that hand tools used in high-Andean agriculture are shaped by technical features such as weight and handle size, and external aspects like climate effect and cultural familiarity, while material limitations, rough handle surface or inadequate tool size can act as barriers. In addition, efficiency of tools during work, preparation like a sharpened tip, fit between components head and handle, local maintenance facilitates farmers\u2019 satisfaction. These findings suggest that agricultural hand tool design should go beyond technical aspects to incorporate cultural and practical perspectives.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0335295","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,15]],"date-time":"2026-05-15T17:52:51Z","timestamp":1778867571000},"page":"e0335295","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Andean agriculture and hand tools: A qualitative approach of exploration of needs, barriers, and opportunities for innovation"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"21","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7506-4939","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Liliana","family":"Cruz-Ausejo","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Jos\u00e9 del Carmen","family":"Abad Castillo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Claudia","family":"Cardenal","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0002-5751-2050","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"MD Zahid","family":"Hasan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Amit","family":"Bhattacharya","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8732-6959","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Jerome T.","family":"Galea","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,15]]},"reference":[{"key":"pone.0335295.ref001","article-title":"La peque\u00f1a agricultura familiar en el Per\u00fa. Una tipolog\u00eda microrregionalizada","volume-title":"IV Censo Nacional Agropecuario 2012: Investigaciones para la toma de decisiones en pol\u00edticas p\u00fablicas","author":"H Maletta","year":"2017"},{"key":"pone.0335295.ref002","unstructured":"Instituto Nacional de Estad\u00edstica e Inform\u00e1tica, Ministerio de Agricultura y Riego. Encuesta Nacional Agropecuaria 2022. Principales resultados- Peque\u00f1as y Medianas unidades agropecuarias, 2014-2019 y 2021-2022. Lima: Instituto Nacional de Estad\u00edstica e Inform\u00e1tica. 2022. https:\/\/www.inei.gob.pe\/media\/MenuRecursivo\/publicaciones_digitales\/Est\/Lib1912\/libro.pdf"},{"key":"pone.0335295.ref003","article-title":"La agricultura peruana, situaci\u00f3n post COVID-19 y perspectivas","author":"ML Castillo","year":"2021","journal-title":"Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung"},{"key":"pone.0335295.ref004","article-title":"Factores ergon\u00f3micos de riesgo para los trabajadores agr\u00edcolas, en la zona norte de Cartago, Costa Rica","author":"CE Madriz-Quir\u00f3s","year":"2021","journal-title":"TM"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0335295.ref005","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"91","DOI":"10.17151\/hpsal.2019.24.2.8","article-title":"S\u00edntomas musculoesquel\u00e9ticos en las actividades de cosecha de mora de Castilla de Piedecuesta, Colombia","volume":"24","author":"F Maradei","year":"2019","journal-title":"Hacia Promoc Salud"},{"issue":"26","key":"pone.0335295.ref006","first-page":"14","article-title":"Analysis of postural geometric ergonomic risks and their impact on the productivity of manufacturing industry workers","volume":"8","author":"R Mu\u00f1oz-Hernandez","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Ergonomics"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0335295.ref007","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"109","DOI":"10.1186\/s12891-023-06219-x","article-title":"Association of ergonomics risk factors among Iranian calico crafts-men and musculoskeletal discomforts: a cross-sectional study","volume":"24","author":"M Shakerian","year":"2023","journal-title":"BMC Musculoskelet Disord"},{"key":"pone.0335295.ref008","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Morlon P, Bourliaud J, Reau R, Herv\u00e9 D. Una herramienta, un simbolo, un debate: la \u201cchaquitaclla\u201d y su persistencia en la agricultura andina. In. 1992. p. 38\u201383. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4000\/books.ifea.2651","DOI":"10.4000\/books.ifea.2651"},{"key":"pone.0335295.ref009","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4273616","DOI":"10.1155\/2018\/4273616","article-title":"Agricultural farm-related injuries in Bangladesh and convenient design of working hand tools","volume":"2018","author":"MS Parvez","year":"2018","journal-title":"J Healthc Eng"},{"key":"pone.0335295.ref010","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"18","DOI":"10.1186\/2052-4374-26-18","article-title":"Design and evaluation of ergonomic interventions for the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders in India","volume":"26","author":"S Gangopadhyay","year":"2014","journal-title":"Ann Occup Environ Med"},{"issue":"6","key":"pone.0335295.ref011","first-page":"2297","article-title":"Ergonomic redesign of farm tools to reduce musculoskeletal disorders among Nigerian farmers","volume":"14","author":"H Unegbu","year":"2025","journal-title":"J Tek Pertan Lampung J Agric Eng"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0335295.ref012","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"27","DOI":"10.1177\/0018720815623146","article-title":"Cultural Influences in Women-Friendly Labor-Saving Hand Tool Designs","volume":"58","author":"WS Kisaalita","year":"2016","journal-title":"Hum Factors"},{"key":"pone.0335295.ref013","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"58","DOI":"10.1016\/j.techsoc.2016.04.001","article-title":"Perspectives on context, design teams and diffusion of technological innovations in low-resource settings: A practical approach based on sub-Saharan African projects","volume":"46","author":"WS Kisaalita","year":"2016","journal-title":"Technol Soc"},{"issue":"8","key":"pone.0335295.ref014","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"654","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tibs.2024.04.008","article-title":"Use of the \u201cdouble diamond\u201d design framework to nurture creativity in life sciences research","volume":"49","author":"Y Shen","year":"2024","journal-title":"Trends Biochem Sci"},{"key":"pone.0335295.ref015","unstructured":"The Double Diamond - Design Council. https:\/\/www.designcouncil.org.uk\/our-resources\/the-double-diamond\/. Accessed 2024 August 10."},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0335295.ref016","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"40","DOI":"10.54097\/27zmm960","article-title":"Innovative service design of online agricultural product platforms: improving user experience and trust","volume":"9","author":"Y Li","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Innov Dev"},{"issue":"25","key":"pone.0335295.ref017","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"25","DOI":"10.16925\/2382-3984.2019.01.03","article-title":"An\u00e1lisis fenomenol\u00f3gico interpretativo: una gu\u00eda metodol\u00f3gica para su uso en la investigaci\u00f3n cualitativa en psicolog\u00eda","volume":"15","author":"H Duque","year":"2019","journal-title":"Pensando Psicol"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0335295.ref018","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"582","DOI":"10.1111\/cobi.12681","article-title":"Using perceptions as evidence to improve conservation and environmental management","volume":"30","author":"NJ Bennett","year":"2016","journal-title":"Conserv Biol"},{"key":"pone.0335295.ref019","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"114523","DOI":"10.1016\/j.socscimed.2021.114523","article-title":"Sample sizes for saturation in qualitative research: A systematic review of empirical tests","volume":"292","author":"M Hennink","year":"2022","journal-title":"Soc Sci Med"},{"key":"pone.0335295.ref020","volume-title":"An\u00e1lisis de contenido","author":"L Bardin","year":"2002"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0335295.ref021","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"347","DOI":"10.1080\/10803548.2017.1296214","article-title":"Non-powered hand tool improvement research for prevention of work-related problems: a review","volume":"24","author":"R Jain","year":"2018","journal-title":"Int J Occup Saf Ergon"},{"issue":"5","key":"pone.0335295.ref022","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"545","DOI":"10.1188\/14.ONF.545-547","article-title":"The use of triangulation in qualitative research","volume":"41","author":"N Carter","year":"2014","journal-title":"Oncol Nurs Forum"},{"issue":"6","key":"pone.0335295.ref023","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"349","DOI":"10.1093\/intqhc\/mzm042","article-title":"Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ): a 32-item checklist for interviews and focus groups","volume":"19","author":"A Tong","year":"2007","journal-title":"Int J Qual Health Care"},{"key":"pone.0335295.ref024","unstructured":"Government of Canada. Hand Tool Ergonomics - Tool Design. CCOHS. https:\/\/www.ccohs.ca\/oshanswers\/ergonomics\/handtools\/tooldesign.html. 2024. Accessed 2024 August 13."},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0335295.ref025","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"54","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ssci.2007.03.003","article-title":"Farm hand tools injuries: A case study from northern India","volume":"46","author":"A Kumar","year":"2008","journal-title":"Saf Sci"},{"issue":"5","key":"pone.0335295.ref026","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"734","DOI":"10.1518\/001872008X354192","article-title":"Investigation of grip force, normal force, contact area, hand size, and handle size for cylindrical handles","volume":"50","author":"NJ Seo","year":"2008","journal-title":"Hum Factors"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0335295.ref027","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"199","DOI":"10.1016\/0169-8141(92)90033-V","article-title":"An analysis of handle designs for reducing manual effort: The influence of grip diameter","volume":"10","author":"KA Grant","year":"1992","journal-title":"Int J Ind Ergon"},{"key":"pone.0335295.ref028","unstructured":"Government of Canada CC for OH and S. Shovelling. CCOHS. https:\/\/www.ccohs.ca\/oshanswers\/ergonomics\/shovel.html. 2025. Accessed 2026 January 15."},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0335295.ref029","first-page":"96","article-title":"Perfil antropom\u00e9trico de trabajadores del Per\u00fa utilizando el m\u00e9todo de escala proporcional","volume":"2","author":"CME Galindo","year":"2020","journal-title":"Ergon Investig Desarro"},{"issue":"12","key":"pone.0335295.ref030","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0051795","article-title":"Trade-offs in relative limb length among Peruvian children: extending the thrifty phenotype hypothesis to limb proportions","volume":"7","author":"E Pomeroy","year":"2012","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"issue":"10","key":"pone.0335295.ref031","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1526","DOI":"10.1080\/00140139.2014.934301","article-title":"The influence of rice plow handle design and whole-body posture on grip force and upper-extremity muscle activation","volume":"57","author":"M Swangnetr","year":"2014","journal-title":"Ergonomics"},{"issue":"5","key":"pone.0335295.ref032","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"643","DOI":"10.1016\/j.apergo.2006.05.004","article-title":"Association between objective and subjective measurements of comfort and discomfort in hand tools","volume":"38","author":"LFM Kuijt-Evers","year":"2007","journal-title":"Appl Ergon"},{"key":"pone.0335295.ref033","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"323","DOI":"10.1016\/j.aaspro.2016.02.142","article-title":"Farmers\u2019Injuries, Discomfort and Its Use in Design of Agricultural Hand Tools: A Case Study from East Java, Indonesia","volume":"9","author":"RKK Wibowo","year":"2016","journal-title":"Agriculture and Agricultural Science Procedia"},{"key":"pone.0335295.ref034","article-title":"Agricultural hand tools in emergencies: guidelines for technical and field officers","author":"JE Ashburner","year":"2013","journal-title":"Rome: FAO"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0335295.ref035","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"24","DOI":"10.29393\/EID7-2DESM20002","article-title":"Dise\u00f1o ergon\u00f3mico de herramienta manual para la cosecha de yuca con una metodolog\u00eda de ergonom\u00eda participativa y codise\u00f1o","volume":"7","author":"SM Mu\u00f1oz-Nu\u00f1ez","year":"2025","journal-title":"Ergon Investig Desarro"},{"key":"pone.0335295.ref036","unstructured":"Instituto Nacional de Estad\u00edstica e inform\u00e1tica. IV Censo Nacional Agropecuario 2012. Lima: INEI. 2013. https:\/\/proyectos.inei.gob.pe\/web\/DocumentosPublicos\/ResultadosFinalesIVCENAGRO.pdf"},{"key":"pone.0335295.ref037","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"103313","DOI":"10.1016\/j.agsy.2021.103313","article-title":"Participatory design of digital innovation in agricultural research-for-development: insights from practice","volume":"195","author":"J Steinke","year":"2022","journal-title":"Agric Syst"}],"container-title":["PLOS One"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0335295","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,15]],"date-time":"2026-05-15T17:52:58Z","timestamp":1778867578000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0335295"}},"subtitle":[],"editor":[{"given":"In-Ju","family":"Kim","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"editor","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,15]]},"references-count":37,"journal-issue":{"issue":"5","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,15]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0335295","relation":{},"ISSN":["1932-6203"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1932-6203","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,15]]}}}