[The Berne Härz-As (Ace of Hearts) Project: goals, study plan and initial results]

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular health
• Occupational health
• Psychosomatic medicine

Background:

• Cardiovascular risk factors, morbidity, and subjective health are key indicators of overall well-being.
• Understanding the interplay of psychosocial and somatic factors is crucial for effective health interventions.
• Workplace interventions offer a promising avenue for addressing cardiovascular health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the Berne Härz-As (Ace of Heart) project, a workplace-based randomized trial.
• To assess the impact of the intervention on cardiovascular risk factors, morbidity, and subjective health over at least four years.
• To investigate the contribution of psychosocial and somatic factors to health indicators within the study population.

Main Methods:

• A randomized trial design was employed.
• The study involved a pilot phase with 620 employees across two companies.
• Data collection will track cardiovascular risk factors, morbidity, and subjective health over a minimum of four years.

Main Results:

• The pilot study demonstrated the feasibility and acceptability of the Berne Härz-As project.
• Both management and employees found the project practical and agreeable.
• The intervention goals were deemed justified based on pilot study findings.

Conclusions:

• The Berne Härz-As project is a viable and well-received initiative for improving employee health.
• The study design supports further investigation into cardiovascular risk reduction and health enhancement in the workplace.
• The project's focus on psychosocial and somatic factors is well-aligned with current health research priorities.