In November 2025, I presented a poster presentation at the 33rd Semmelweis Symposium, held at the Basic Medical Science Center of Semmelweis University in Budapest.
The poster focused on the awareness of Health Development Offices (HDOs) and the barriers to utilizing preventive health services among adults aged 60 and over, based on a cross-sectional questionnaire survey conducted at the Újbuda Szent Kristóf Outpatient Care Centre.
The study examined health attitudes, preventive behaviors, and the gap between perceived importance of health maintenance and actual engagement in health-promoting activities. Data were collected from 500 older adults using an interviewer-assisted questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, cross-tabulation, cluster analysis, and non-parametric testing.
The results showed that while the importance of health preservation is widely recognized among older adults, active participation in preventive services remains low. Psychological and motivational barriers were identified as the main obstacles to primary prevention, and awareness of Health Development Office services was particularly limited. Statistical analysis confirmed a significant discrepancy between attitudes and behaviors.
The findings highlight the importance of targeted communication and outreach strategies to improve the utilization of preventive health services among older adults. Understanding these barriers is essential for strengthening primary prevention and supporting healthy ageing in outpatient care settings.
The poster presentation is available for download: