Introduction. The growing proportion of older adults increases interest in studying the quality of life, men­tal well-being, social well-being, and engagement patterns of the older generation in the urban environment. Comparative studies help to reveal the influence of institutional and socioeconomic conditions on the subjec­tive well-being of older people. Moscow and Minsk are comparable capitals in terms of historical development, yet they demonstrate different models of social policy and organization of support to older citizens.

Objective. To conduct a comparative analysis of selected aspects of mental and social well-being, social activity, and attitudes towards the healthcare system among older residents of Moscow and Minsk, based on sociological survey data.

Materials and methods. The study is based on a comparative analysis of telephone (CATI) and online survey results conducted in Moscow and Minsk (2022-2024). We made comparisons by selecting the closest matching questions from each survey, taking into account sample composition and question wording. The analysis included indicators of life satisfaction, financial situation, self-rated health, social engagement, information sources and attitudes towards medical care.

Results. Similarities in key characteristics of social well-being among older residents of the two capitals were identified: comparably low levels of life dissatis­faction, a similar structure of life struggles, and fairly high satisfaction with medical care. In both capitals, the level of engagement in silver volunteering (18-20%) is equally high in comparison to the international context, while involvement in formal sociopolitical structures is low.

Conclusions. The observed differences may be considered as two emerging models: an adaptive model in Minsk, focusing on overcoming resource constraints and preserving inherited forms of activity, and a model of critical reflection in Moscow, empha­sizing service quality, higher digital inclusion, and extensive coverage of organized leisure programs.

Introduction. Eating behavior in high school students is a multidimensional phenomenon sensitive to psy­chological and emotional states. The relevance of the study is driven by the need to identify latent structures of eating behavior and their association with subclinical anxiety and depression.

Objective. To determine the factor structure of eating behavior dimensions in senior high school students and to assess its relationship with manifestations of anxiety and depression.

Materials and Methods. A total of 116 11th grade students (17±0.4 years; 67.2% females) were examined. The EDI subscales were used (factor analysis, principal com­ponent method) along with the HADS scale (Pearson correlation analysis).

Results. Two latent factors were identified: “fixation on body image” (interoceptive deficits, bulimia, drive for thinness, perfectionism) and “de­tached self-perception” (interpersonal distrust, body dissatisfaction, ineffectiveness). Elevated anxiety levels were found in 40.5% of students. The strongest correlations were observed between anxiety and components of the first factor (r=0.439-0.449; p<0.001), as well as with depression (r=0.3220.323; p<0.001).

Conclusions. Eating behavior in high school students has a two-factor structure. The fixation on body image is a factor most closely associated with subclinical anxiety and depressive states.

Conclusion. The identified eating be­havior patterns may serve as early markers of psychological and emotional distress and should be considered when developing preventive interventions in school settings.

Background. On March 1, 2026, the Russian Federation enacted a new federal law establishing a mandatory mentorship institution in healthcare for professionals who have received medical education for the first time. Therefore, healthcare managers face the challenge of building a cost-effective, manageable system of men­torship in the context of workforce shortage and higher demands for quality care.

Objective. To systematize approaches for implementing a mentorship framework into healthcare organizations, develop practical tools for evaluating the efficiency of mentoring activities, and provide an implementation algorithm adapted to the current healthcare settings.

Materials and methods. The authors performed an analysis of regulations and legal acts on mentorship in healthcare, including Federal Law No. 424-FZ, Orders of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, and guidelines on implementing a mentorship system in labor. Methods of compar­ative analysis, modeling of organizational processes, and synthesis of practical recommendations were ap­plied.

Results. Four key elements of an efficient mentorship system in a healthcare organization were identi­fied: distribution of roles with assignment of responsibility (manager, HR service, mentor, trainee); a system of key performance indicators (KPIs) for assessing mentor and trainee activity; mechanisms of tangible and soft incentives for mentors; and regulatory and administrative documentation (mentoring regulations, Individual Development Plan, mentor’s diary, trainee assessment sheet, mentoring impact report).

Conclusion. Introduc­ing a systemic approach to mentoring in healthcare organizations enables to fulfill legislative requirements and to achieve a measurable managerial impact, resulting in lower turnover among young specialists and less time for their adaptation and professional development. Integrating a mentorship framework into existing workflows without adding more bureaucracy is crucial for success.

Background. The population’s ability to critically assess health information and choose reliable sources is becoming a key factor to preserving public health in the context of the digital transformation of healthcare and the overwhelming amount of medical information available on the Internet and social media.

Objective. To evaluate the health information behavior among Orenburg residents and to identify their sociodemo­graphic determinants.

Materials and methods. A sociological survey of 500 Orenburg residents aged 18-75 years was conducted using a formalized interview method. A structured questionnaire was used, which in­cludes blocks on health information sources and trust in doctors, medical bloggers and social media, as well as practices for verifying the reliability of medical information. Statistical processing was performed using the Statistica 10.0.

Results. Social media and messengers were the main sources of health information for 52.8% of respondents, while only 35.6% of respondents trusted doctors as a source of information. 28.6% of respondents expressed confidence in medical bloggers as much as doctors, with another 16.4% trusting them more than doctors. Just 38.6% of respondents verified the accuracy of medical information from the Internet. Significant age and educational differences in source selection and critical attitude toward information were revealed.

Conclusion. With social media dominating as a source of health information, the majority of the population does not regularly practice verifying medical content. The most vulnerable groups are individuals aged 18-29 years and those with low levels of education, thus targeted measures to improve digital health literacy are needed.

Background. Chronic inflammatory dermatoses—psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and eczema—have a per­sistently high prevalence and a pronounced negative impact on patients’ quality of life. Current clinical guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation mandate the assessment of the Der­matology Life Quality Index (DLQI), yet its systematic integration into the follow-up care pathway is still structurally underdeveloped.

Objective. To substantiate an organizational model for using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) as a management tool and quality indicator of the follow-up process by assessing DLQI levels in patients with moderate-to-severe chronic dermatoses.

Materials and methods. A single-center observational cross-sectional study was conducted at the Moscow Scientific and Practical Center of Derma­tovenereology and Cosmetology (2023-2026). Using unselected sampling, 105 patients aged 18-60 years with moderate-to-severe psoriasis (n=42), atopic dermatitis (n=38), or eczema (n=25) were enrolled. Disease severity was assessed with PASI, SCORAD, and EASI scores; quality of life was measured using the validated DLQI questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed in IBM SPSS Statistics 26.0 using nonparametric methods, the chi-square test, and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient.

Results. The overall mean DLQI score was 14.8, indicating a very large effect on patient’s quality of life. The effect was slightly stronger in psoriasis (mean 15.6) than in atopic dermatitis (14.8) or eczema (13.4), with moderate between-group differences. No statistically significant difference in DLQI was found between sexes.

Conclusion. The mean DLQI score in the cohort was 14.8 (very large effect), highest in psoriasis (15.6) and lowest in eczema (13.4), with no signif­icant sex-related difference. The growing burden of psoriasis and atopic dermatitis in Moscow, especially in the post-pandemic period, together with significant quality-of-life impairment among patients with moderate-to-severe chronic dermatoses, supports a shift from episodic to systematic DLQI assessment and a pro­posed organizational model stratifying the follow-up care pathway by DLQI level, integrated with structured educational and psychosocial support (Patient Schools).

Background. Differential diagnosis of combined cognitive and extrapyramidal disorders in older patients remains a complex clinical challenge requiring integration of large amounts of clinical and imaging data.

Objective. To evaluate diagnostic accuracy, organizational, clinical, and economic effects of the health infor­mation system (HIS) “Diagnosis and Treatment of Cognitive Disorders”.

Materials and Methods. The validation study included 196 patients (mean age 72.0 ± 7.0 years) with verified cognitive and/or motor disorders. For each observation, a profile of 147 features across 27 domains was loaded into the HIS. Diagnostic performance was determined by comparing the system’s leading hypothesis with the clinical reference diagnosis, as well as sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values. In parallel, two groups (intervention, n=97 with HIS; control, n=99 without HIS) were compared regarding time to diagnosis, pharmacotherapy parameters, satisfaction of physicians and patients, and direct costs.

Results. The diagnoses were in complete agreement in 81.6% of cases; the reference diagnosis was among the first three hypotheses in 92.3%. Specific­ity for major nosological entities was 94-100%. In the HIS group, time to diagnosis decreased by 26.3 days (p < 0.001), number of visits from 4.0 to 2.3 (p < 0.001), physician’s time per case by 5.5 minutes (p < 0.001). The proportion of personalized treatment regimens increased from 47.5% to 86.6%, and the incidence of adverse drug events decreased from 28.3% to 10.3% (p = 0.001). Direct cost savings reached 7,231 rubles per patient per year, with a return on investment (ROI) of 3.8.

Conclusion. The HIS demonstrates high diagnostic accu­racy, contributes to faster patient routing, improves the quality and safety of pharmacotherapy, and achieves positive economic outcomes.

Background. Preeclampsia (PE) drives high maternal mortality in Nigeria. Region-specific risks in re­source-limited Jigawa State, complicated by sparse subgroup data, demand targeted study.

Objective. To iden­tify and compare risk factors among nulliparous and multiparous women in Jigawa State.

Materials and methods. Prospective case-control study was carried out in three hospitals (n=395: 146 cases, 249 controls). Hausa questionnaires/records were used. Adjusted logistic regression (AORs, 95% CIs) was applied.

Conclu­sion. Parity-specific risks highlight tailored antenatal care and community health education.

Background. In major healthcare organizations with a large nursing staff, the chief nurse performs a wide range of management functions related to planning, delegation, and control. Traditional tools like paper note­books and messengers do not provide the requisite transparency, discipline, and a single point of control, ne­cessitating the search for affordable digital solutions.

Objective. To test the Russian digital platform Yozhka for chief nurse task management and evaluate its usability and suitability.

Materials and methods. A survey regarding the usage of task planning and tracking tools was conducted among 35 chief nurses enrolled in the Nursing Management course at the Department of Nursing of Orenburg State Medical University. The learning by doing method was applied to organize hands-on training on the Yozhka platform: participants managed individual mini-projects for a week, creating tasks, setting deadlines, and using a kanban board and automated reminder system.

Results. It was found that 70 and 80% of respondents use paper notebooks and messengers to assign tasks to subordinates, respectively. During the training, the participants noted the key advantages of Yozhka: task status visualization (Kanban), automated reminders (100% of respondents prior­itized this function), built-in task chats, and other features to prevent losing tasks. The training allowed for more transparent control and rigorous task execution.

Conclusion. Practice-oriented training of chief nurses in Yozhka has shown the tool’s applicability for daily management of nursing staff in large healthcare organi­zations. The results support the inclusion of relevant modules in continuing professional education programs.

Introduction. The modern system of higher medical education places increased demands on the psycholog­ical stability of students, which frequently results in a professional identity crisis. This condition is manifest­ed by a loss of meaning in the profession, a decline in academic performance, and doubts about the validity of a career choice. Standardized criteria for the early detection of professional identity crisis, however, have not yet been established.

Objective. To develop and validate a framework for screening for a professional identity crisis in medical university students using a set of psychological indicators.

Materials and methods. The study involved 120 fourth through sixth-year students from the faculties of general medicine and pediatrics. The following instruments were used: the Purpose-in-Life Orientations Test (D.A. Leontiev), the Hardiness Scale by S. Maddi, the Ways of Coping Questionnaire by R. Lazarus, the method for studying learning motivation by T.I. Ilyina, and the author’s questionnaire for subjective assessment of the crisis. Statistical processing includ­ed comparative, cluster, and regression analyses.

Results. Using cluster analysis and subsequent discriminant testing, three groups of students were identified: “successful” (30.8%), who do not experience crisis; “students experiencing crisis but having high personal resources for overcoming it” (38.3%), who maintain meaning in life, active coping and intrinsic motivation; and students (30.8%) whose subjective experience of crisis is combined with profound existential, emotional and behavioral disorders. Predictors of the maladaptive form of crisis were low meaning in life (в = -0.38), low level of resilience (control, в = -0.27), avoidance coping (в = 0.22) and lack of intrinsic motivation (в = -0.19), collectively explaining 71.4% of the variance.

Conclusion. The developed screening tool help to early detect students in need of psychological support and to plan pre­ventive interventions on a case-by-vase basis.

Background. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the most prevalent and socially significant consequences of exposure to extreme stress. Its pathogenesis involves impairments in neuroplasticity, in which brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a key role. In recent decades, the potential of using BDNF system components as biomarkers for objective diagnosis, disease prognosis, and personalized therapy in PTSD has been actively investigated; however, the data remain contradictory and require systematization.

The goal was to systematize and summarize current evidence on the role of BDNF in the pathogenesis of PTSD, to examine the molecular, genetic, and epigenetic aspects of its dysfunction, and to evaluate the diag­nostic and prognostic potential of BDNF system components as possible biomarkers.

Materials and methods. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, eLibrary, and Google Schol­ar databases for the period 2000-2025 in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, using keywords reflecting the relationship between BDNF and PTSD. Original clinical and experimental studies, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews in English and Russian were included.

Results. A multi-layered nature of BDNF system dysfunction in PTSD was shown, ranging from region-specific changes in protein expression to genetic and epigenetic alterations. Controversies in peripheral BDNF levels were identified, attributable to differences in biomaterial type, protein form, and sample heterogeneity. Assessment of mature BDNF, the proBDNF/mBDNF ratio, BDNF gene promoter methylation, and regulatory microRNAs (miR-182-5p, miR-9-5p, miR-204-5p) demonstrated prognostic value, being associated with symptom severity, chronicity, and treatment response. The use of total BDNF as an independent diagnostic marker for PTSD is currently not justified. The most promising approach involves integrating a panel of BDNF-related measures (genotype, epigenetic marks, mature protein level, microRNAs) into multifactorial models for disease prognosis and personalized therapy.

Introduction. The global population aging trend is accompanied by a rise in the number of patients with cognitive impairment and dementia, which requires the search for effective preventive strategies.

Objective. To summarize the current evidence from systematic reviews and meta-analyses on the influence of elderly nutrition (geriatric dietetics) on cognitive health in older adults, and to substantiate the role of dietary strat­egies for risk factor modification in preventing and slowing the progression of cognitive disorders.

Materials and methods. A literature search was performed in Medline, eLibrary, and Cochrane Library databases for the period from October, 2004, to August, 2024, using the keywords “cognitive impairment,” “dementia,” “nutri­tion,” “diet”, and “nutrients.” Over 70 Russianand English-language sources were screened, with preference to prospective cohort studies, randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses.

Results. The most robust evidence supports the Mediterranean diet (up to 72% reduction in Alzheimer’s disease risk), mod­erate caffeine intake (70-450 mg/day), moderate calorie restriction, and maintenance of adequate vitamin D levels. In contrast, supplementation with individually taken B vitamins, vitamins C and E, and omega-3 poly­unsaturated fatty acids showed no significant benefit. It is confirmed that timely dietary intervention and adoption of elderly nutrition principles slow cognitive decline.

Discussion. The observed effects are attributed to the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties of nutrients. Limitations of the evi­dence base include the predominantly observational design of many studies and the short intervention period in several randomized trials.

Conclusion. Integrating elderly nutrition principles into preventive healthcare and patient education may contribute to reducing the burden of dementia. Further long-term interventional studies are warranted.

Introduction. Academic stress in medical students, which leads to academic burnout, sleep disturbances, neurotic disorders, psychosomatic symptoms, decreased academic performance and productivity, anxiety, and deterioration of physical health, requires comprehensive research.

Objective. The aim is to establish the priority areas of modern research on academic stress in medical students.

Methods and materials. Using the keywords “academic stress in medical students”, 24 empirical scientific articles that had not previously been translated into Russian or systematized were selected for a systematic review from 118 scientific arti­cles published in the Scopus international scientific citation system on the Science Direct platform in 2025.

Results. A systematic review of Scopus articles for 2025 allowed prioritizing the following areas of modern research on academic stress in medical students: 1) prevention of academic stress in medical students (33.4%); 2) external factors influencing the occurrence of academic stress in medical students (20.8%); 3) internal factors influencing the occurrence of academic stress in medical students (16.7%); 4) the relationship between academic stress in medical students and the characteristics of their emotional-volitional sphere (12.5%); 5) the consequences of academic stress in medical students (8.3%) and the relationship between academic stress in medical students and the characteristics of their motivational-need sphere (8.3%).

Introduction. The World Health Organization (WHO) highlights the importance of environmental factors in shaping human health. In the context of healthcare organizations, salutogenic design presents a promis­ing approach to enhancing patient-centeredness through environmental modification, focusing on creating conditions that reduce stress and promote well-being. Despite the decades-long evolution of the salutogenic design concept, its practical application is frequently constrained by the fragmented implementation of isolat­ed elements.

Objective. To systematically analyze and synthesize global experience in the field of salutogenic design within healthcare facilities in order to structure the foundational aspects of the concept as it has evolved over recent decades.

Materials and methods. A non-systematic literature review was conducted using following databases: PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library for the period from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2024.

Results. Elements of salutogenic design in healthcare facilities, such as well-chosen color schemes, natural light and sufficient lighting, biophilic design (nature elements, natural textures), effective space organization, art, and noise reduction, contribute to improved patients’ emotional state and clinical indicators.

Conclusions. The design of healthcare facilities is an important factor in the quality and safety of care. However, the implementation of modern concepts of patient-centered spaces, such as salutogenic design, is limited due to the lack of unified methodological approaches. The literature review results confirm that healthcare facilities apply salutogenic design factors in an isolated and/or limited manner. To achieve the op­timal positive effect of salutogenic design, unified standards based on research need to be developed, which will improve the environment for health care delivery and enhance patient satisfaction.

Introduction. The article analyzes the potential of emotional artificial intelligence (AI) in studying the emotional states of team members and the impact of psychological climate on their health and performance.

The relevance of the study is driven by the growing gap between the technological capabilities of multimodal emotion recognition and their practical integration into team communication management, particularly in hybrid and remote work formats.

Objective. To substantiate a conceptual model for applying affective comput­ing to monitor team emotional climate, detect pre-conflict states early, and develop adaptive communication strategies. The article reviews meta-analytical findings on the effectiveness of hybrid Al-human systems.

Results. The study establishes that, with proper separation of roles between AI and humans, integrating affective technologies into team interaction platforms can enhance conflict resolution and reduce burnout. However, meta-analyses also show that hybrid systems generally underperform compared to the best individ­ual agent in decision-making tasks, including conflict management, necessitating deliberate interaction de­sign.

Conclusion. The study proposes a three-tier model of technological maturity and formalizes criteria for assessing organizational readiness to adopt affective technologies. Key limitations are identified, including ethical concerns of emotional monitoring, cultural variability in emotional expression, risks of algorithmic bias, and Russian legal requirements regarding biometric personal data. Recommendations are provided for the phased integration of emotional AI systems into team management, accounting for regulatory and orga­nizational barriers.

Objective. To attempt a systematic analysis of the specifics of doctor-patient interaction.

Materials and methods. An analysis of current research by Russian authors was performed.

Results. The following constitu­tive features distinguishing this type of communication from other forms of social interaction are identified: ontological (existential nature), axiological (value conflict and the role of trust), communicative (immanent asymmetry), normative-ethical (dual regulation), and institutional (hybridization of models in modern condi­tions).

Conclusion. The specifics of doctor-patient interaction are systemic in nature and cannot be reduced to the sum of individual factors. Special attention is paid to the transformation of interaction models in modern conditions, including the issue of hybridization of paternalistic, collegial, and consumerist models.

Background. The growth of international educational migration is accompanied by the development of a global medical education market, in which countries and universities compete to attract international appli­cants.

Objective. To identify the reasons for choosing medical education abroad and systematize the factors determining the choice of a destination country and medical school by young people.

Materials and methods. The methodological framework combines the “push-pull” model of international student mobility, human capital theory, and a trajectory-based approach to educational migration. The research uses the methods of comparative analysis, systematization, classification and interpretation of materials published by UNESCO, the World Health Organization, the OECD, the World Federation for Medical Education, and peer-reviewed empirical studies of medical students studying abroad.

Results. It was revealed that the reasons for choosing medical education is defined as an integrated assessment of expected educational, professional, migration-re­lated, and social benefits adjusted for costs and risks. Academic, clinical and infrastructural, economic, regu­latory and institutional, professional and migration-related, social and cultural determinants were identified. Easier admission, clinical education quality, reputation of an educational institution, qualification recogni­tion, tuition costs, personal safety, and post-graduation career opportunities seem to be particularly signifi­cant. The paper argues that the reasons for choosing medical education should be evaluated across the entire education-to-employment trajectory rather than solely at the point of university admission.

Background. The digital transformation of healthcare and the widespread adoption of information and communication technologies have fundamentally reshaped the access to health-related information. Intense information flows have given rise to the “infodemic” phenomenon, where the overwhelming and conflicting health information creates new challenges for the public health.

The aim of the study was to provide a sys­tematic review of current scientific evidence on the influence of population digital literacy and the charac­teristics of the information environment on health behavioral patterns.

Materials and methods. A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, WoS, eLibrary, and CyberLeninka databases for the period 2019­2025.

Results. Validated tools for assessing digital literacy were identified; the relationship between digital literacy and economic aspects of medical behavior was established. The “cyberchondria paradox”, that is a positive association between digital literacy and health-related anxiety, was revealed. The effects of first-, second-, third-level digital divide, as well as culturally specific perception of digital health recommendations were documented.

Conclusion. Digital literacy is a significant yet non-linear factor shaping health-oriented behavior; its effect is managed by socioeconomic and institutional conditions.