Methods of the National Check Bus Project

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Preventive Medicine
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Worksite health promotion is increasingly recognized for its importance in public health.
• Implementing effective prevention strategies within companies is crucial for employee well-being.
• This study addresses the need for data-driven health promotion initiatives in corporate settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To encourage general health awareness among company employees through a nationwide prevention campaign.
• To provide companies with aggregated health analyses of their staff for future health promotion planning.
• To evaluate novel screening methods within a real-world occupational health research setting.

Main Methods:

• A voluntary, free-of-charge health promotion program offered to 25,243 employees across two Swiss companies.
• Inclusion of a written health questionnaire and various medical examinations (e.g., blood pressure, blood tests, ultrasounds, bone densitometry, eye exams).
• Provision of individual test result analysis, informational brochures, and a telephone information service, with companies receiving only anonymized, aggregated data.

Main Results:

• A participation rate of 41% was achieved, with 10,321 employees taking part.
• Participation patterns varied significantly based on employee age, hierarchical status, body mass index, and reported physical complaints.
• Identified trends in participation showed both consistent and opposing patterns across different health examinations.

Conclusions:

• Worksite health promotion program participation is influenced by a complex interplay of individual and structural factors.
• Tailoring programs to specific employee characteristics, motivations, incentives, and structural constraints is essential for enhancing participation rates.
• Effective planning of workplace health promotion requires careful consideration of these diverse influencing variables.