AB008. Advancing health equity through institutional health screening: a university-based approach to metabolic syndrome prevention in Indonesia
Abstract

AB008. Advancing health equity through institutional health screening: a university-based approach to metabolic syndrome prevention in Indonesia

Mutiara Tirta Prabandari Lintang Kusuma1, Firsta Tiara Putriananda1,2, Prima Dhewi Ratrikaningtyas3

1Department of Health Nutrition, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia; 2Center for Health and Human Nutrition, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia; 3Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Population Health, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Background: University communities represent a critical setting for advancing population health and addressing rising non-communicable disease (NCD) burdens. In Indonesia, the Health Promoting University (HPU) framework has guided institutional efforts to embed health into university systems, policies, and culture. This study explores how a university-based annual Medical Check-Up (MCU) program contributes to health equity and chronic disease prevention among academic staff, with a focus on early detection and management of metabolic syndrome (MetS).

Methods: A qualitative descriptive design was employed, drawing on the Context, Input, Process, and Product (CIPP) evaluation model. Data were gathered from two MCU providers at a major Indonesian public university through in-depth interviews with key informants (n=4), document analysis, and reflective journals. Thematic analysis was used to examine the program’s development and institutional alignment with HPU principles. This study received ethical approval from the Medical and Health Research Ethics Committee, Universitas Gadjah Mada (KE/FK/0057/EC/2025).

Results: The MCU program has evolved over time, demonstrating improvements in inputs—such as expanded interprofessional teams (e.g., nutritionists, lab personnel), enhanced infrastructure (e.g., mobile units, on-site labs), and updated MetS screening parameters. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic accelerated innovation, prompting mobile service delivery and safety-driven layouts. Key enablers included institutional leadership, policy integration, and sustainable financing. Nonetheless, gaps in documentation, health communication, and participation persist, particularly among younger staff.

Conclusions: Embedding preventive health screening within a university’s ecosystem fosters equitable access to NCD risk assessment and supports institutional health literacy. The findings underscore the role of HPUs in promoting long-term health outcomes and system resilience, aligning with global health goals and regional commitments to equity and prevention.

Keywords: Context, Input, Process, and Product model (CIPP model); Health Promoting University (HPU); Medical Check-Up (MCU); metabolic syndrome (MetS); program evaluation

Footnote

Conflicts of Interest: This study is funded by Universitas Gadjah Mada through the Department of Health Nutrition Research Grant 2023. The funder had no role in the study design, data collection, analysis, or manuscript preparation. M.T.P.L.K. and F.T.P. report receiving travel and conference attendance support from Universitas Gadjah Mada for the 18th Association of Pacific Rim Universities Global Health Conference. The funding covered the first and third authors’ attendance at the conference. The other author has no conflicts of interest to declare.

Open Access Statement: This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), which permits the noncommercial replication and distribution of the article with the strict proviso that no changes or edits are made and the original work is properly cited (including links to both the formal publication through the relevant DOI and the license). See: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.

doi: 10.21037/jphe-26-ab008
Cite this abstract as: Kusuma MTPL, Putriananda FT, Ratrikaningtyas PD. AB008. Advancing health equity through institutional health screening: a university-based approach to metabolic syndrome prevention in Indonesia. J Public Health Emerg 2026;10:AB008.

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