Impact of a primary care prevention programme on health behaviour change: a pre-post study in Poland

Background

Addressing lifestyle-related diseases requires accessible and scalable prevention strategies within primary care. The Polish national programme “My Health” (Moje Zdrowie), launched in 2025, aims to improve early detection and reduce health inequalities by providing structured preventive care. However, evidence on its impact on behavioural change remains limited. This study assessed its influence on patients’ motivation and readiness to adopt healthier behaviours.

Methods

A quasi-experimental controlled pre-post study was conducted among 80 adults (aged 20–59) in primary care settings. Participants were divided into an intervention group (programme participants, n = 40) and a control group (non-participants, n = 40). Data were collected at baseline and after 6 weeks using validated tools (IPAQ, AUDIT-C, Fagerström test, dietary assessment) and measures based on the Transtheoretical Model. Non-parametric tests (Mann–Whitney U, Wilcoxon signed-rank) were applied.

Results

No significant baseline differences were observed between groups. After 6 weeks, participants in the programme demonstrated significantly improved dietary quality (p = 0.009) and reduced alcohol consumption (p = 0.008), along with increased levels of physical activity (p < 0.05). No significant changes were found in nicotine dependence. Between-group comparisons indicated differences in dietary outcomes and behavioural patterns. Participants also showed progression towards more advanced stages of behavioural change.

Conclusions

Participation in a structured, primary care-based prevention programme was associated with short-term improvements in selected health behaviours and increased readiness for change. These findings support the role of primary care in delivering accessible preventive interventions and suggest potential for reducing behavioural risk factors at population level. Further research is needed to assess long-term impact and equity outcomes.

Key messages

• The “My Health” programme improved diet, physical activity, and reduced alcohol use within 6 weeks of intervention.

• Primary care can effectively support health behaviour change, increasing patients’ readiness for sustainable lifestyle improvements.