Multidisciplinary Health & Wellbeing

Journal review - issue 3 2025

2025-09-02T15:58:42+00:00

Welcome to the latest issue of Multidisciplinary Health&Wellbeing, which focuses on the exciting topics of well-being, health inequalities and prevention, while also taking a close look at the state of healthcare in Hungary.

MEJ Café roundtable discussion on wellbeing

2025-09-03T08:09:45+00:00

Why is wellbeing receiving increasing attention in public health? How can the concept of wellbeing be defined? What can Hungarian professionals do to ensure that wellbeing gains more ground in Hungarian public health? We sought answers to these questions in a discussion with the country's leading experts.

Hungarian public health papers in international comparison

2025-09-03T08:09:44+00:00

INTRODUCTION: Scientific publication output is a crucial indicator in health sciences, reflecting a discipline's or research group's contribution to knowledge advancement. The establishment of the Hungarian Public Health Renewal Association was based on the recognition that significant changes are needed within the national public health sector. The aim of this study is to examine whether there is a noticeable gap between Hungary and other countries in terms of public health publication performance.

METHODOLOGY: This study analyzed the number of public health publications per capita and their citation impact. Keyword searches were performed in the PubMed and Web of Science databases over the past five years, with results filtered by author affiliation to specific countries. Publication counts were normalized using population data from the World Bank. Citation impact was assessed using data from the SCImago Journal & Country Rank database, focusing on average citations per document (Cites/Doc) and the H-index for publications in the “Public, Environmental and Occupational Health” category published in 2024. Limitations include that simple publication counts do not always reflect quality, citations can be skewed by disciplinary differences or negative mentions, and database coverage varies.

RESULTS: According to both PubMed and Web of Science data, the Visegrad countries consistently ranked at the bottom among the studied nations in terms of the number of public health publications per capita over the past five years. Denmark, leading the rankings, showed more than tenfold the value compared to Hungary. In the citation rankings (based on average citations per document and H-index), Hungary also performed poorly, indicating a relatively lower international impact of Hungarian public health publications. Denmark maintained a strong position in citation metrics, while Canada led the H-index ranking.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings clearly show that the Hungarian public health sector's scientific publication performance lags behind international standards, especially compared to top countries. This low level of scientific activity and visibility is not merely an academic shortcoming, but rather, it has serious practical consequences. For example, it results in a weakened ability to provide modern, evidence-based recommendations for public policy. This may explain why the level of preventable mortality in Hungary is approximately double the EU average. A comprehensive renewal of the sector is essential. The Hungarian Public Health Renewal Association's professional concept, “Foundational Principles for Improving Health and Well-Being: A White Paper on the 21st Century Renewal of Hungarian Public Health”, proposes concrete intervention strategies for this renewal. This reform is crucial for improving the competitiveness of Hungarian public health research on the international stage and for enhancing public health indicators.

Report: Key findings from the 2024 European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs – ESPAD International report – key findings

2025-09-03T08:09:44+00:00

For the first time in ESPAD's history, a preliminary report has been prepared, while the more comprehensive 2024 ESPAD report, entitled "European School Survey on Alcohol and Other Drugs: Results from 2025," will be published in October 2025. The research places great emphasis on examining the sociological and psychological background factors of substance use, such as socio-demographic characteristics, family, school, friends, leisure activities, mental health, and depression. The Hungarian report presenting domestic prevalence and background analyses is expected to be published in the winter of 2025.

Report: European Drug Report 2025

2025-09-03T08:09:44+00:00

The European Drug Report 2025 provides the latest and most comprehensive overview of the drug situation in the European Union from the European Union Agency for Drugs. This report is not just a collection of statistics; it is an essential resource for policymakers, professionals, and anyone who wants to gain a deeper understanding of the ever-changing dynamics of drug use and the drug market in Europe. The document provides a detailed analysis of trends in the most commonly used drugs (e.g., cannabis, cocaine, synthetic opioids), market developments, the emergence of new drugs, as well as the health consequences of drug use and harm reduction interventions.

Report: Changing income inequality in life expectancy in Hungary

2025-09-03T08:09:45+00:00

The training of public health professionals is key to the effectiveness of their work. For those who train and educate Hungarian public health professionals, the article can be very instructive in terms of the topics they teach and the people they teach. The continuous development of science and the new challenges of the 21st century require both public health professionals working in the field and those training them to adapt.

Article review: Substance use is not a choice, but a survival strategy

2025-09-03T08:09:44+00:00

This study examined the use of new psychoactive substances (NPS) in three disadvantaged rural Hungarian communities, where substance use often serves as a means of survival under conditions of extreme poverty and hopelessness. According to the authors, substance use is not merely an individual choice but a response to a complex socio-existential trap. The researchers identified seven ideal-typical user and abstainer profiles based on structural position and psychological characteristics, along with common trajectories of downward mobility and transition. The study emphasizes that effective prevention and harm reduction must address the underlying structural factors.

Article review: Examining the complex picture of school catering

2025-09-03T08:09:44+00:00

Examining the complex image of school catering from the perspective of ethnography and nutrition science III In the third part of our article series we present the findings of children’s and parents’ attitudes towards public catering, based on our research titled: „The social embeddedness of the public catering of children. Issues and opportunities.” The results of the study confirmed that the type and taste of foods offered in school canteens are particularly important aspects for the students, and at the same time, poor eating circumstances also affect their willingness to eat. For example, it is disturbing for them if the dining room is crowded, if there is a lot of noise, if the meal time is short, or if they do not feel the attitude of the serving staff and the teachers is supportive. Most parents consider the lunch offered in public catering to be healthy and varied, and the majority of students are also satisfied with it. Students typically tell their teachers or parents if they have a problem with school meals. There is no well-established system for dealing with complaints related to public catering. Our research has highlighted that, it may be worth taking into account the problems children have expressed about the eating circumstances, which could be improved to increase the acceptability of public catering.

Article review: Community-Based Health Promotion Models for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention - A Conceptual and Evidence-Based Review

2025-09-03T08:09:44+00:00

Community-based health promotion (CBHP) models offer an effective approach to cardiovascular disease prevention by addressing social determinants and supporting sustainable behavior change. CBHP relies on community participation, cultural relevance, and reducing health inequalities. The success of interventions depends on integrating behavioral change theories and involving local resources and stakeholders. Emerging technologies like mobile apps and AI enhance prevention potential, but require improved accessibility and digital literacy. Long-term impact requires strategic integration, sustainable funding, and active stakeholder engagement.

Article review: Applying Theroy of Change in the development of Community Initaited Care for people living with mental illnesses

2025-09-03T08:09:44+00:00

The authors of the study are involved in the psychiatric services system at various levels and in various areas (education and service development). We can read about the unique synthesis of the professional team's theoretical and practical knowledge through the presentation of a project based on change theory, designed both vertically and horizontally.

Article review: A Multidisciplinary Framework for Measuring and Improving Wellbeing

2025-09-03T08:09:44+00:00

Wellbeing is a critical multidisciplinary concept for a better future. In defining wellbeing as a balance point
between resources and challenges, autonomy and intensity, as well as support and demand, we can see the
dynamic nature of wellbeing. It is critical to understand the relevant realms of wellbeing for different individuals
and systems. To achieve wellbeing it is important to understand all the players involved in creating and
sustaining wellbeing. Incorporating theory and current research it is clear that any system to measure,
understand, or increase wellbeing must contain multidisciplinary theories and findings, incorporate co-responsibility and appreciative inquiry, and include feedback loops that allow for accurate daily measurement of the challenges and resources available on any given day. The purpose of this paper is to integrate a new definition of wellbeing with theory and research from multiple disciplines to create a framework for the real world practice of measuring wellbeing.

Secondary publication: Review of medical perception of non-binary and transgender continuum

2025-09-03T08:09:44+00:00

The physical and mental health of transgender and non-binary persons is a poorly researched area in our country. Diagnostic tools and awareness are limited, which makes the hidden client group particularly vulnerable. According to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), ’gender incongruence’ is a permanent and significant discrepancy between the person’s lived and physical appearance. The lack of consistency alone does not indicate a diagnosis, but the more frequent occurrence of mental health difficulties and self-harming behavior justifies medical care in everyday general practice.

Translation: World report on social determinants of health equity. Executive summary

2025-09-03T08:09:44+00:00

The WHO's recommendation to promote health equity builds on extensive international experience. Its application in Hungary is also justified by the latest data on health inequalities in Hungary. In order to successfully reduce health inequalities, Hungarian experts should study and adapt the recommended multi-targeted measures to the domestic context, which reflect not only local problems but also global challenges.

Translation: Health taxes from an EU perspective – final report. Executive Summary

2025-09-03T08:09:44+00:00

A growing body of evidence links the consumption of foods high in fat, sugar, or salt (HFSS) to obesity and NCDs. HFSS food and drink have little nutritional value and result in a significant proportion of excess sugar, salt and energy intakes, particularly amongst younger age groups. In recent years, an increasing number of Member States have introduced HFSS taxes or reformed existing ones with the stated objective of reducing consumption of HFSS food and drink and thus decreasing associated individual and social costs.

Translation: World Happiness Report 2025. Executive Summary

2025-09-03T08:09:45+00:00

Trust in others is more closely linked to happiness than previously thought, according to the World Happiness Report 2025. Global data on the return of lost wallets shows that people are overly pessimistic about trusting their communities. The actual return rate of wallets is about twice as high as expected. Hungary was 69th in the world rankings in 2024, 13 places lower than a year earlier. It ranked last among the Visegrad countries (Czech Republic 20th, Poland 26th, Slovakia 50th). On a 0-10 scale of satisfaction with life, the average Hungarian score was not even 6.

“Cycling without Age in Hungary” – Introduction of a Danish social innovation in Hungary

2025-09-03T08:09:44+00:00

The events of the Biciklivel Kortalanul program are not just bike rides, but social and emotional journeys as well. The joy of movement, human connections, and shared moments all contribute to a meaningful and joyful life even in your 70s, 80s, or even 90s.

Short news from around the world and our homeland

2025-09-03T08:09:44+00:00

A selection of the health and well-being news of most interest to the world's professionals.

Public Health 3.0 - Activities of the Association for the Renewal of Hungarian Public Health

2025-09-01T20:42:16+00:00

We believe that health is the primary condition for a full and happy life, and that modern and effective public health is essential to achieve this. Significant health losses in Hungary and their inequalities across regions and regions highlight the fact that the solutions to public health problems have not been effective and efficient in Hungary. Therefore, the aim of our association is to develop the theory and practice of public health in Hungary with a new approach.