Swiss Health Survey: pilot phase to be continued

Bern, 15.9.2020 - The pilot phase of the Swiss Health Survey will resume in autumn 2020. Its purpose is to prepare for a national study that will examine the influence of the environment and lifestyle on health and to collect health indicators.

The pilot phase has been temporarily suspended and has now been resumed in autumn. A study centre has been established in Bern in addition to the existing study centre in Lausanne.

Who is being invited to the pilot study? How will it proceed?

A thousand people will be selected at random for this pilot study. They will be from 20 to 69 years of age and come from the cantons of Vaud and Bern. The selected individuals will be invited to answer questions about their living environment and health, and they will visit a study centre for a health examination including blood collection and urine samples. The samples will be tested for chemicals such as glyphosate and mercury, and a blood count will be taken.

Participation in the study is voluntary and consent can be revoked at any time.

In addition to people who have been invited to participate in the study, all adults living in Switzerland can complete the questionnaire. Please visit the study website and click on "I want to participate".

All data collected will be encrypted, processed in strict confidence and stored securely.

What is the aim of this health survey? And what is the purpose of the pilot phase?

This Swiss health study is intended to provide information on how the environment and lifestyle influence health. In addition, it is intended to answer questions on public health, particularly in connection with the new coronavirus or Legionella.

In the pilot phase we plan to establish a suitable study framework (methodology, coordination between study centres, etc.) and pave the way for a national study. The final step will be a report that will help the Federal Council to decide on further procedure.

Who initiated the pilot study?

The Federal Council has commissioned us to conduct a pilot study on the Swiss Health Survey from 2020 to 2021.

Who is responsible for its implementation?

In Lausanne:

University Centre for General Medicine and Public Health (Unisanté)
Centre hospitalier universitaire vaudois (CHUV)

In Bern:

University of Bern
Inselspital hospital

Close cooperation or support

Swiss Biobanking Platform (SBP), the national coordination platform for biobanks
Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH)
Swiss Federal Office for Food Safety and Veterinary Affairs
Swiss Federal Office for the Environment

The health study is conducted in strict compliance with Swiss research and data protection regulations as well as international standards.