The Department of General Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice has long been engaged in scientific research activities, focusing on areas closely related to the challenges of modern primary healthcare. Research at the department is naturally integrated with outpatient clinical practice and reflects the needs of the population—with emphasis on prevention, geriatric care, chronic diseases, patient health literacy, and the bioethical aspects of everyday medical practice.
A prominent area within the department’s research portfolio is social geriatrics, which addresses quality of life and accessibility of healthcare among older adults, as well as topics of bioethics and professional ethics in primary care. Several members of the department are also involved in research on doctor-patient communication, health determinants, and strategies for improving health literacy across various population groups.
The department actively contributes to scientific publications and professional events—including both national and international conferences focused on general practice and community medicine. It collaborates with other departments of the Faculty of Medicine at UPJŠ, as well as with residency program partners and professional organizations of general practitioners.
A key future objective is to strengthen the link between research and practical outcomes—particularly in the form of clinical practice recommendations, educational materials for patients, and the integration of research findings into teaching. Research at the department is not viewed as an isolated academic activity but as a vital component of daily education and continuous quality improvement in patient care.
Scientific Research Report for the Year 2024
TIMKOVÁ, Vladimíra – OLŠAVSKÝ, Lukáš – MINÁRIK, Peter – KATRENIAKOVÁ, Zuzana – HUSIVARGOVÁ THEOFANIDIS, Alexandra – MINÁRIKOVÁ, Daniela – NAGYOVÁ, Iveta:
Mediterranean diet adherence and food knowledge in the sample of Slovak adults = Dodržiavanie stredomorskej diéty a úroveň potravinovej gramotnosti u dospelých Slovákov. 13 / 23 Prohuman: vedecko-odborný interdisciplinárny recenzovaný časopis, zameraný na oblasť spoločenských, sociálnych a humanitných vied: vedecko-odborný internetový časopis, 2024, 112. Projekt: Behaviorálne inovácie v manažmente nadváhy a obezity u dospelej populácie – VEGA 1/0748/22
VEGA Project 1/0748/22 (Principal Investigator: V. Timková)
The aim of the project was to identify potential prerequisites and barriers to behavior change in weight regulation. The objective was also to describe the extent to which body weight and approaches to it result from individual resources and behaviors – understanding the problem, motivation, support, and self-control.
The study by Timková et al. (Prohuman 2024, 11, 19) revealed that only 18% of respondents were fully able to understand the representation of healthy choices within major food groups. Food literacy was found to be lower among older individuals, rural residents, and people with lower education and income levels. As many as 73% of participants reported low adherence to the Mediterranean diet, and only 3% achieved a high level of adherence. Overall adherence was higher among women and urban residents.
The acquired findings can enhance the effectiveness of interventions and contribute to the innovation of strategies that can support both patients and healthcare professionals.
Full article available at:
https://www.prohuman.sk/zdravotnictvo/mediterranean-diet-adherence-and-food- knowledge-sample-slovak-adults
