Semmelweis University’s innovative Center of Preventive Services in support of healthy ageing

Abstract

Abstract Issue/problem Europe’s aging population presents substantial hurdles for healthcare sustainability. To alleviate the social and economic impacts of age-related diseases, promoting healthy aging is imperative. However, motivating individuals to adopt a healthier lifestyle proves challenging. Description of the problem Semmelweis University, a leading institution in medicine, health sciences, and health care in Hungary and Central Eastern Europe, has addressed this challenge by establishing the Center of Preventive Services (CPS), serving 12,500 Semmelweis University employees. The CPS conducts comprehensive health risk assessments and offers consultations with specialists in preventive medicine, public health, dietetics, physiotherapy, and health psychology. Motivational interviewing is used to enhance patient engagement and commitment to healthy lifestyle changes. Results The CPS has effectively integrated preventive services into the university’s healthcare system, reaching a significant number of employees. Early results show improvements in participants’ lifestyle and health behaviors due to the effective use of motivational interviewing. According to the first preliminary result, a study on step count conducted within the CPS found that those taking part in motivational interviewing session were able to increase their average daily step count by 1074 (95% Confidence Interval: 116-2033) steps more than controls. Lessons The Semmelweis University’s CPS provides valuable lessons for integrating healthy aging-focused preventive care into healthcare systems: 1. Effective preventive care requires targeted interventions based on detailed risk assessment and motivational interviewing; 2. Embedding preventive services within existing health infrastructure improves accessibility and utilization; 3. Collaborative and multidisciplinary approaches are essential to comprehensively address the needs of ageing populations. Key messages • Motivational interviewing boosts the effectiveness and engagement of preventive health services, which is essential to meet the challenges of ageing populations. • The Semmelweis University’s model program shows that embedding preventive services into the infrastructure of existing institutions like universities is scalable for better public health.