Preventive medicine in clinical practice: rationale based on the diversity of implemented interventions with spa patients in Poland in 2018-2023

Abstract

Background. Spa treatment is widely used in today’s medicine and it is increasingly gaining recognition among patients. Its essence is the application of natural therapeutic stimuli, individually selected according to the stage of the disease. Balneo-physical treatments carried out in spas result in a reduction in ailments, as well as an improvement in the quality of life of patients. At the same time, it should be emphasized that the treatment of patients requires an appropriate plan, considering the duration of therapy. The aim of this study was to provide empirical argumentation as a basis for innovative modifications of spa treatment in Poland. Material and methods. Health problems and patient ages were grouped according to the methodology of the Central Statistical Office. Results. In 2018, the largest number of patients used services because of rheumatic diseases (around 300,000), followed by cardiological (over 43,000) and neurological interventions (over 33,000). Rheumatic interventions remained in the lead in 2023, while cardiological ones swapped the ranking position with neurological interventions. Conclusions. The epidemiological data obtained between 2018 and 2023, i.e. including the post-pandemic period, provide a set of indications justifying the indispensable increase in the importance of preventive medicine in daily clinical practice, as well as during spa treatment.