[Adolescent prevention as a tool for reducing healthcare system burden]

Adolescence is of particular importance in the prevention of non-communicable chronic diseases, as health behavior patterns established during this life stage may influence adult morbidity in the long term. The healthcare system and societal burden of chronic diseases justify the development of prevention programs initiated early in life and adapted to the needs of the target population.

The aim of our study was to assess program awareness, health behavior characteristics and perceptions of prevention programs among the target population of the "Youth for a Healthy Future" (YHF) program.

A cross-sectional quantitative questionnaire-based study was conducted in 2025 using convenience sampling. The 26-item online questionnaire was completed by 427 examined individuals; data processing was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 30.0 software. In addition to descriptive statistics, cross-tabulation, Pearson's χ² test and Cramér's association coefficient were applied.

The sample comprised 46% boys and 52.0% girls; the mean age was 18.0 years (SD = 1.73). The YHF program was known by 16% of respondents, and 29 examined individuals reported direct participation. Regular smoking was reported by 16% and occasional smoking by 17% of respondents. A significant association was found between school type and smoking status (χ² = 36.798; p<0.001; Cramér's V = 0.29): a lower smoking rate was observed among grammar school students, whereas regular smoking was more frequent among vocational secondary school and technical school students. Awareness of the YHF program was also associated with school type (χ² = 12.070; p = 0.002; Cramér's V = 0.17), with higher awareness among grammar school students. Among barriers to participation, insufficient information was reported by 61% of respondents, lack of free or discounted participation by 58%, and the insufficiently practical nature of programs by 38%. Among future program topics, stress management, mental health and sports events attracted the greatest interest.

Based on our findings, improving the reach of the YHF program and similar prevention initiatives requires more targeted communication, program structures better adapted to differences by school type and sex, and a stronger emphasis on practical and interactive program elements. Due to the cross-sectional design, causal conclusions cannot be drawn; however, the results may provide a basis for future longitudinal and controlled studies. Orv Hetil. 2026; 167(30): 1207-1212.