CITIZENS’ ATTITUDES TOWARD PERSONAL HEALTH, AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE, AND THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM

The Republican Center for the Study of Public Opinion “Ijtimoiy Fikr” has launched a nationwide sociological survey on the topic: “Citizens’ Attitudes Toward Personal Health, an Active Lifestyle, and the Healthcare System.” This study is of particular importance in the context of the reforms being carried out in our country aimed at strengthening public health, improving the quality of primary healthcare, reinforcing a preventive approach, widely promoting a healthy lifestyle, and enhancing access to medical services. In particular, by Presidential Decree No. UP-88 dated May 19, 2025, a new model for organizing the healthcare system was introduced, the implementation of which was designated on a pilot basis from July 1, 2025, in selected districts and cities, and from January 1, 2026, in all districts and cities of Samarkand region. In addition, Resolution No. PP-185 gave priority attention to the construction and renovation of the infrastructure of central district and city hospitals, as well as family polyclinics, for 2025–2027. At the level of state policy, digitalization, the updating of clinical protocols, the strengthening of prevention, and increasing the effectiveness of modern diagnostics have also been identified among the most important tasks. These areas are also reflected as priorities in the Development Strategy of New Uzbekistan for 2022–2026.

The main objective of this sociological study is to comprehensively examine citizens’ attitudes toward personal health, their self-assessment of their own state of health, psycho-emotional well-being, inclination toward physical activity, experience in using medical services, and the level of trust in the healthcare system. Within the framework of the study, it will be identified which diseases and health problems the population encounters most frequently, what the main factors of stress and anxiety are, what hinders regular physical activity, what practical problems exist in the use of medical services, and what the public’s attitude is toward state policy promoting a healthy lifestyle.

The objectives of the study are broad in scope and of practical significance, as they make it possible to assess health-related conditions of the population based on the direct opinions of citizens themselves. In particular, the study will analyze situations arising in the use of medical services, including the presence of queues, the cost of services and tests, the degree of availability of qualified specialists, as well as citizens’ opinions regarding the quality and convenience of services. Alongside this, access to information about medical services, as well as factors related to territorial infrastructure and transport accessibility, will be assessed in a comprehensive manner.

In addition, this study is aimed at analyzing the population’s attitudes toward sports and physical activity, the availability and quality of sports facilities in citizens’ places of residence, as well as such factors as motivation, time, conditions, and economic opportunities influencing the formation of a healthy lifestyle culture. This creates an important empirical basis for assessing how effective state measures are in promoting mass sports, prevention, and improving the medical literacy of the population.

Another important feature of this study is that it makes it possible to show how the reforms being carried out in our country are reflected in public consciousness. Today, reforms in the healthcare system are not limited merely to increasing the number of medical institutions or renovating them. At the new stage, the main focus is placed on strengthening the primary level of medical care, ensuring services that are accessible and convenient for the population, developing preventive medicine, improving the quality and transparency of medical services, and turning a healthy lifestyle into a social value. In this sense, the regular study of public opinion serves as an important tool for assessing the real effectiveness of reforms, identifying the expectations and needs of the population, and making more precise and targeted decisions in this sphere.