In September 2025, I presented my research at the XXVII National Conference on Outpatient Specialist Care and the XXII National Conference of the Hungarian Chamber of Healthcare Professionals, held in Balatonfüred, Hungary. The presentation focused on the gerontosociological role and national coverage of Health Development Offices (HDO) in Hungary, with particular attention to their contribution to health promotion and prevention among older adults.
The starting point of the research is the demographic reality that the proportion of older adults is steadily increasing, placing growing pressure on healthcare and social systems. In this context, health promotion and primary prevention play a crucial role in maintaining quality of life and reducing avoidable healthcare costs. The study examined whether and how HDO Offices are able to respond to these challenges, both in terms of service provision and accessibility.
The research applied a mixed-method approach. A nationwide online questionnaire survey was conducted among HDO Offices to assess preventive services offered to older adults, communication channels, and program structures. In parallel, geospatial and concentration analyses were performed using official national datasets. The spatial distribution of HDO Offices was evaluated using indicators such as the Lorenz curve, Gini index, Herfindahl–Hirschman Index (HHI), location quotient, and Shannon entropy, allowing a detailed assessment of territorial inequalities and service coverage.
The results indicate that while the national distribution of HDO Offices is more balanced than expected, certain regions remain underrepresented. Most offices provide preventive services targeted at older adults, particularly physical activity programs, nutritional counseling, and mental health support. At the same time, substantial heterogeneity was observed in service portfolios and online presence, suggesting differences in resource availability, local adaptation, and institutional capacity.
The findings highlight a key tension: diversity in service provision supports adaptation to local needs, but the lack of standardized performance indicators and protocols may limit long-term sustainability and comparability. From a gerontosociological perspective, the effectiveness of health promotion depends not only on availability, but also on communication, internalization, and attitude change among the older population.
Overall, the presentation emphasized that primary prevention is not merely a supportive function but a core element of healthy ageing policy. Understanding how institutional structures, spatial accessibility, and preventive strategies interact is essential for improving equity and effectiveness in health promotion for older adults.
The presentation materials are available for download here: