Physical, mental and social well-being as a priority for health promotion in the post-pandemic era: Evaluation of local government activities in Poland
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1
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Public Health in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
2
Department of Health Economics and Health Management, Faculty of Public Health in Bytom,
Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
3
Department of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
Corresponding author
Mateusz Grajek
Zakład Zdrowia Publicznego, ul. Piekarska 18, 41-902 Bytom
Ann. Acad. Med. Siles. 2026;80:82-91
Data Availability Statement
The original data presented in the study are openly available in the AOTMiT repository at https://www.aotm.gov.pl.
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic underscored the importance of holistic health promotion, encompassing physical, mental, and social well-being. This study evaluates the health promotion activities of local governments in Poland during and after the pandemic, with a focus on initiatives that address mental health, physical activity, and social well-being.
Material and methods:
The research analyzed 408 health policy programs published on the website of the Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Tarification (AOTMiT) between 2020 and 2024. Programs were categorized based on their focus, including those related to COVID-19 treatment, rehabilitation, prevention of complications, and mental health support. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were conducted to assess the programs’ objectives, target groups, and regional distribution.
Results:
The findings reveal significant regional disparities in the implementation of the program, with developed regions such as Mazovia leading in initiatives and underrepresented areas such as Lubuskie and Podlasie lagging behind. Vaccination and mental health programs were prominent during the pandemic, but there was no explicit focus on long COVID. Physical activity, nutrition, and sleep hygiene received limited attention compared to international benchmarks. Mental health initiatives were moderately represented, addressing the pandemic’s exacerbation of stress, anxiety, and isolation.
Conclusions:
Poland’s health promotion efforts exhibit a gap between policy frameworks and localized implementation. Despite some progress, disparities in access and underrepresentation of certain health areas remain key challenges. Addressing these issues requires increased funding, cross-sectoral collaboration, and targeted initiatives to bridge regional inequities and promote holistic health.
FUNDING
This research received no external funding.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
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