Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death world-wide and is influenced by unhealthy lifestyle behaviours. Although farming is widely seen as a healthy way of life, research shows that Irish farmers engage in unhealthy lifestyles and are a particularly high-risk group for CVD. Not only does this result in some farmers dying prematurely, for many other farmers, it can restrict their capacity to work and to earn a living. Older farmers in particular have tended to see health more as ‘women’s business’ and need to be encouraged and supported to look after their health.
This study entitled ‘Farmers Have Hearts’ will bring health to farmers in their workplace (marts and co-ops), and aims to support farmers to adopt healthier lifestyles and to reduce their risk of developing CVD. To begin with, farmers will undergo a comprehensive health check carried out by highly skilled nurses from the Irish Heart Foundation’s mobile health unit. After the health check, farmers will be asked to give their consent to participate in the study, will complete a detailed health and lifestyle questionnaire, and will sign up to their choice of follow-up health interventions (health coach, health text messaging, health coach and text messaging, control group). This process will be repeated one year later to monitor progress and to assess how effective the interventions were. All stakeholders (farmers and those delivering the interventions) will also be invited to offer reflections on the programme. Overall, the study findings will be significant in improving farmers’ health.
