Vol 24, No 3 (2025)

The healthy lifestyle (HLS) concept has been extensively promoted over the past 10 years to improve public health. However, this did not result in the consistent improvement of the behavioral indicators in young people. This fact may open a discussion about the effectiveness of this concept implementation in some cities. The paper presents a comparative study of students’ attitudes towards health in cities with a population of over one million (Nizhny Novgorod and Ufa) in 2009–2023 in the context of existing healthy lifestyle promotion systems.

This work aimed to analyze the effectiveness of healthy lifestyle promotion in two cities (regions) in 2009–2023 based on behavioral health parameters of students to identify possible areas for improvement. To achieve the aim, both studies, Student Health (2009, n = 4850) and Digital Transformation in the Life of Students (2023, n = 10,360), used customized questions developed by the Section of Social Health Problems of the Institute of Sociology of the Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The data were processed using SPSS Statistics 22.

A comparison of statistics and information for the two cities with the surveys shows minor changes in students’ self-assessment of health and variable behavioral indicators (physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, search for information on a healthy lifestyle). The importance of a subject aimed at raising awareness of health in the university curriculum has slightly changed with a negative trend in both cities.

A study of the effectiveness of healthy lifestyle promotion based on a behavioral analysis of students over a 14-year period does not provide grounds for concluding that health promotion in these cities is successful. However, the findings of the two studies may not be decisive for a comprehensive assessment of all healthy lifestyle promotion activities in these regions. The obtained data may be used to facilitate a deeper study of this process. An obvious promising area is encouraging the population to lead a healthy lifestyle by developing a health culture since the childhood in the general education system.

BACKGROUND: Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) remains one of the leading causes of viral hepatitis in Russia and worldwide, creating a significant social and economic burden, especially in working-age groups. Years of Potential Life Lost (YPLL), which is rarely used in Russian studies, is a sensitive social significance indicator of the disease.

AIM: This study aimed to assess the long-term changes of CHC incidence and population health losses in the Perm Territory using the YPLL as an indicator of the social, demographic, and economic burden of the disease.

METHODS: An epidemiological study was conducted based on published statistics and reporting on the incidence of viral hepatitis for 1999–2024 provided by Rospotrebnadzor in the Perm Territory. The study included all registered cases of acute and chronic viral hepatitis and deaths from CHC during the that period. A standard age of 70 years was used to calculate the YPLL. The calculations used the adopted formula: YPLL = ∑d_i × a_i. The data are standardized per 100,000 population. Statistical processing was performed in the Statistica 8.0 suite and data visualization was performed in Microsoft Excel 2007.

RESULTS: In 1999–2024, the incidence of CHC had three epidemic phases, including growth, stabilization, and decline. In 2024, the actual incidence rate (24.3 per 100,000 population) exceeded the upper limit of the curvilinear trend confidence interval by 65.3%, indicating epidemic levels of CHC. The YPLL ranged from 46.5 to 219.2 years per 100,000 population, peaking in 2012 and showing another increase in 2020–2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2024, the average YPLL was 47.3 years per 100,000 population.

CONCLUSION: In the Perm Territory, CHC epidemic has intensified since 2022. The YYPL confirmed the continuing social and demographic burden of CHC in the Perm Territory, showing the need to intensify screening and preventive efforts.

The growing number of patients with congestive heart failure (CHF), especially in rural populations, increases the burden on the healthcare system and requires effective economic, medical and social solutions. The introduction of telemedical care technologies and the redistribution of responsibilities between doctors and mid-level health providers are key modern trends with significant social and organizational implications. The involvement of mid-level health providers in telemedical care increases the availability of services, expands their responsibilities, and strengthens their professional status in the healthcare system.

This work aimed to compare foreign and national models of involving mid-level health providers in telemedical care for patients with CHF to identify opportunities for integrating the most effective foreign practices in the national healthcare system.

The review was based on clinical guidelines and original study reports from MedLine, Web of Science, Scopus, The Cochrane Library, eLibrary.Ru, and PubMed databases. The review analyzed 50 sources.

A comparative analysis of international and national practice showed that the responsibilities of mid-level health providers in telemedical care for CHF cover a wide range of tasks. National practice utilizes technologies for transmitting electrocardiograms and blood pressure data, remote weight and symptom monitoring, and video appointments. A difference was found between the levels of healthcare; in federal and regional centers, mid-level providers primarily prepare patients for appointments, manage online communications, and monitor compliance under the supervision of a physician. However, in towns and rural areas, their responsibilities expand to include regular monitoring and management of communications with area specialists.

A comparative analysis showed that mid-level health providers play a key role in telemedical care for CHF. The study systematizes data on the involvement of mid-level health providers in online care for CHF and demonstrates their integrative role, which goes beyond conventional responsibilities.

The rapid changes in contemporary life and new stress factors require regular analysis of the population’s mental health.

As depression and anxiety disorders are the most common mental conditions, and anxiety and depression are common reactions to stress, this paper focuses on studies of the prevalence of their symptoms among Russians.

This work aimed to analyze statistics on the incidence of mental disorders in the adult Russian population, summarize research data on the prevalence of psychoemotional stress and symptoms of depression and anxiety, and data from surveys of individuals on how they cope with stress, including seeking professional advice.

We analyzed publicly available documents, including publications from the Russian Science Citation Index (RSCI) database (n = 47), issues and reviews of the Public Opinion Foundation (FOM) (n = 6), Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) (n = 5), and Levada Center** (n = 1). Selection criteria included relevance to subject areas; search period was 2010–2025.

In 2021–2023, the following indicators per 100,000 population increased in Russia: 1) the number of mental disorders recorded in newly diagnosed patients; 2) the number of patients newly diagnosed with alcoholism and alcoholic psychosis and put under observation. The degradation was preceded by a period of negative experiences in Russians.

According to various studies, a significant portion of individuals exhibit signs of depression and anxiety, and high levels of psychoemotional stress. Such conditions are more common in women and persons with low income. In some studies, signs of psychoemotional distress are more often recorded in young people, whereas other report that they are more common in older age groups. There is evidence of the influence of employment and marital status on the level of psychoemotional stress. The studies differ in their instruments, sample population (including age limits), and approaches to data analysis and interpretation.

To identify risk groups, make forecasts, and assess the mental health status of the population, it should be monitored. It is required to study the changes in stress coping methods, including destructive (alcohol consumption and smoking).

The number of people seeking professional psychological and psychotherapeutic advice has increased over the past 15–20 years. In 2024, surveys showed that 10%–15% of Russians had such an experience. Today, education of the population on the ways to improve the ability to cope with stress and psychotherapeutic and psychological support is essential. We should focus parents’ attention on the prevention of anxiety in children and make stress relief techniques part of the curriculum.

The global economy developing in the contemporary context may be characterized by ever-increasing national and international inequality. In an inherently unequal development setting, consistent economic growth is impossible; whereas inclusive development provides for a transition to less imbalances and financial benefits distributed to all population groups based on a more equitable principle of non-discrimination. This paper discusses approaches to assessing inclusive sustainable development currently used by some international organizations and the importance of healthcare factors in such methods. It focuses on reviews the approaches developed as part of the projects implemented by the United Nations, the World Bank, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the Asian Development Bank, the World Economic Forum, and the Eurasian Economic Union.

This work aimed to investigate the methods used by international organizations to assess the national inclusive development, and determine the importance of healthcare factors in the studied methods.

The methods used by international organizations to assess the national inclusive development were studied by analyzing the available publications, including scientific works (n = 11), regulations (n = 1), and policy documents (n = 14). The study was conducted in 2024 at the Institute of Social Sciences of Sechenov University.

Most international organizations describe possible approaches to economic inclusion assessment in their documents. Although the concept of inclusive development seems quite simple, international organizations and associations do not use a single definition of or generally accepted measurement methods. The analysis shows that, despite the differences in the interpretation of the inclusive development concept and the use of various methods to assess inclusion, access to healthcare services, with rare exceptions (e.g., the method used by the International Monetary Fund), is one of the most significant factor in the analyzed methods due to its direct influence on the general wellbeing of the nation.

Disputes on the refusal to reimburse expenses for open temporary disability leaves involving the Russian Social Insurance Fund (SIF) are often associated with incorrect interpretation of regulations governing the procedure for the payment of compulsory social insurance benefits. There is a common practice that regional branches and officials of the Russian SIF incorrectly define the legal nature of such disputes and file claims against improper defendants, with whom they have no legal relationship, or against proper defendants but based on facts beyond the scope of its responsibilities. In addition, there are cases of challenging the temporary disability leaves opened by physicians and healthcare providers by referring to the lack of legal basis.

In some cases, such disputes contradict the general direction of ongoing medical activities as they only formally assess the actions of the attending physician opening a temporary disability leave, affecting the interests of society and the state in limiting the spread of contagious and/or socially significant diseases. Such cases occur when it is required to isolate exposed persons in the context of quarantine for an identified infection.

Thus, it seems appropriate to analyze controversial cases, determine their origin, and propose possible options for solving them.

The paper discusses the core activities of the Medical Law Department at the Institute of Social Sciences of the I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University. It analyzes the organization of the Department’s activities and identifies the key tasks of student relations.

One of the key development areas of the Department has been the research on improper medical care, associated risks, and the liability of medical professionals. The paper focuses on the integration of research and education under the leadership of Academician Sergeev and the importance of the student research club for the training of young professionals. It presents the best students’ publications and awards at such venues as the Medical Spring Forum. We also highlight the Department’s practice-oriented approach implemented through regular updating of teaching aids based on case law and the introduction of short-term programs to improve legal literacy. We come to a conclusion about the Department’s integrated approach to developing students’ skills required in the contemporary healthcare system. Thus, the Department’s research addresses a wide range of issues and determines the needs for developing a set of relevant training programs, including continued professional training.