FarmCoSwiss

Aim of the study

The FarmCoSwiss study aims to investigate the health, well-being and quality of life of the agricultural work force and their partners in Switzerland. Every profession has certain advantages and disadvantages. In Switzerland, health aspects of the agricultural workers and their partners have not yet been studied in detail. However, research from other countries shows that agricultural work can be associated with an increased health risk, for example due to accidents, environmental influences or economic pressure. Other studies, on the other hand, suggest that the general health of the agricultural population may be better than the health of the general population. The spouses or partners of people working in agriculture also face these agriculture-specific advantages and disadvantages, even if they are not personally involved in agriculture.

Why is this important?

In Switzerland, around 150'000 people work in agriculture. They produce healthy and high-quality food and thus create the basis for our nutrition. The agricultural sector, however, is exposed to many challenges, be it due to climatic, societal or political changes. The survey on health and well-being of Swiss farmers and their spouses or partners will provide evidence on both positive aspects and potential risks of agricultural occupations. It will also identify ways to maintain the attractiveness of agricultural professions.

Who participates in the study?

People aged at least 18 and speaking German, French or Italian, who work in Swiss agriculture and who live in Switzerland for an extended period of time were eligible to participate. Also cordially invited were spouses and partners of persons working in Swiss agriculture, regardless of whether they themselves were employed in agriculture or not. Persons working in agriculture include self-employed persons, persons in full-time and part-time or seasonal employment, as well as, for example, persons who voluntarily work on a family farm. All eligible individuals per family and/or farm were welcome to participate.

What does the study involve?

Between November 2022 and August 2023, the first (so-called baseline) survey was conducted. A total of 875 people answered this baseline survey. The FarmCoSwiss study is designed as a cohort study. This means that participants who filled in the first baseline survey are followed for several years and are regularly asked to answer follow-up questionnaires about different aspects of their health. This ensures that we not only capture Swiss farmers’ health at one point in time, but also observe their health and wellbeing over a longer period of time. This is important to investigate how farmers’ health is associated with different factors, such as, e.g., environmental and political changes, and to detect changes in farmers’ health and wellbeing. Participants may leave the cohort study at any point and new participants may be invited to the study at a later stage. 

In March 2024, the first follow-up questionnaire was sent to all participants. In this survey, some questions are repeated in order to identify potential changes (e.g. due to the season) in health. In addition, concerns communicated by the participants in the first questionnaire were addressed and new health aspects were queried.

Participants who meet certain criteria will also be invited to take part in scientific interviews between March and May 2024. The insights gained from and the topics discussed during the interviews enable us to view and supplement the data collected from the questionnaires from a new perspective. In addition, scientific interviews offer the interview participants the opportunity to communicate their personal perspective on the topic of health in Swiss agriculture.

When and where will the results of the study be published?

The data already collected from the first baseline questionnaire of the study is currently being analyzed. We ask for your understanding that the data cleaning, data preparation and data analyses take time. Results will be published in scientific journals and will be linked on this website.

I am interested in participating - what should I do now?

The FarmCoSwiss cohort does currently not invite new participants. At a later stage, the cohort may be reopened for new participants. We will inform you about any updates on this website.