THE ROLE OF THE PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN IN THE PREVENTION OF NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES - A REVIEW
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.1(49).2026.5496Keywords:
Primary Healthcare, Non-Communicable Diseases, Integrated Care, Preventive Healthcare, Interdisciplinary TeamsAbstract
Non-communicable diseases represent one of the greatest challenges for modern healthcare systems and are the leading cause of premature mortality worldwide. Effective prevention of these conditions requires integrated actions implemented at the primary healthcare level, which plays a key role in both primary and secondary prevention. The aim of this article was to present the role of the primary care physician in preventing non-communicable diseases, with particular emphasis on new care models, interdisciplinary teams, digital tools, and systemic barriers that limit the effectiveness of preventive measures. This work is a literature review. Publications in the field of public health and family medicine concerning the prevention of non-communicable diseases, the functioning of primary care, care integration, digitalization, and healthcare system preparedness were analysed. Selected sources were subjected to critical qualitative analysis, and the data obtained were synthesized thematically. The review results indicate that primary care forms the foundation for effective prevention of non-communicable diseases due to its capacity for early identification of risk factors, conducting screening tests, and long-term collaboration with patients. At the same time, the growing importance of interdisciplinary teams and digital tools, which complement the traditional care model, was emphasized. However, significant limitations remain in the form of organizational, staffing, and systemic barriers. The conclusions highlight the need for further development of integrated care models and research on effective strategies for implementing prevention in primary care.
References
Bouton, C., Journeaux, M., Jourdain, M., Angibaud, M., Houn, J.-F., & Rat, C. (2023). Interprofessional collaboration in primary care: What effect on patient health? BMC Primary Care, 24, 253. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-023-02189-0
Budreviciute, A., Damiati, S., Sabir, D. K., Onder, K., Schuller-Goetzburg, P., Plakys, G., Katileviciute, A., Khoja, S., & Kodzius, R. (2020). Management and prevention strategies for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and their risk factors. Frontiers in Public Health, 8, 574111. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2020.574111
Cogiel, K., Sawina, A., Guzowska, A., Lau, K., & Kasperczyk, J. (2025). Managing chronic disease in the digital era: The role of telemedicine apps and platforms. Przegląd Epidemiologiczny, 79(1), 83–94.
Gupta, A., Ogundele, O. J., Rabet, R., Artyukh, I., Trindade, T., Cheng, D., Osafo Darko, D., Eltigany, M., Cieza, A., Skidmore, B., & Rouleau, K. D. (2025). Understanding the role and organization of health workers delivering non-communicable disease management in primary care in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review. BMC Primary Care, 25, 33. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-025-03033-3
Haque, M., Islam, T., Rahman, A. A., McKimm, J., & Dhingra, S. (2020). Strengthening primary health-care services to help prevent and control long-term (chronic) non-communicable diseases in low- and middle-income countries. Frontiers in Public Health, 8, 600. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2020.00600
Hu, P. L., Tan, C. Y.-L., Nguyen, N. H. L., Wu, R. R., Bahadin, J., Nadkarni, N. V., & Tan, N. C. (2022). Integrated care teams in primary care improve clinical outcomes and care processes in patients with non-communicable diseases. Singapore Medical Journal, 63(8), 423–429. https://doi.org/10.11622/smedj.2022067
Kabir, A., Kabir, N. M., & Billah, B. (2023). The capacity of primary healthcare facilities in Bangladesh to prevent and control non-communicable diseases. BMC Primary Care, 24, 60. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-023-02016-6
Kabir, A., Karim, M. N., & Islam, R. M. (2022). Health system readiness for non-communicable diseases at the primary care level: A systematic review. BMC Health Services Research, 22, 141. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8830230/
Li, I., Pandian, V., Davidson, P., Song, Y., Chen, N., & Fong, D. (2025). Burden and attributable risk factors of non-communicable diseases and subtypes in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2021: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. International Journal of Surgery, 111(3), 2385–2397. https://doi.org/10.1097/JS9.0000000000002260
Maher, D., Harries, A. D., Zachariah, R., & Enarson, D. A. (2009). A global framework for action to improve the primary care response to chronic non-communicable diseases. BMC Public Health, 9, 355. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-9-355
Mali, S., Rhodes, E. C., Nakarmi, C. S., Shrestha, S., Dhakal, A., Bharati, A., Bishwokarma, A., Adhikari, A., Poudel, B., Kulung Rai, B., Manandhar, S., KC, S., Timalsena, D., Silwal, S., Dhimal, M., Baral, P. P., Teufel, F., Bhattarai, S., Spiegelman, D., & Shrestha, A. (2025). Barriers and facilitators to patient utilization of noncommunicable disease services in primary healthcare facilities in Nepal: A qualitative study. BMC Health Services Research, 25, 863. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-13050-8
Shaluhiyah, Z., Oatrannada, S. A., Kusumawati, A., & Miah, M. S. (2025). The effect of digital health intervention in promoting healthy behavior: A systematic scoping review on strategies to prevent non-communicable diseases. Dialogues in Health, 7, 100258. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dialog.2025.100258
Stefanowicz, A., Kulik, T. B., Pacian, J., Żołnierczuk-Kieliszek, D., & Skórzyńska, H. (2023). Rola placówek podstawowej opieki zdrowotnej w realizacji profilaktyki nowotworów w opinii lekarzy rodzinnych. Medycyna Ogólna i Nauki o Zdrowiu, 19(2), 168–172.
Stojnić, N., Klemenc Ketiš, Z., Mori Lukančič, M., Zavrnik, Č., & Poplas Susič, A. (2023). Perceptions of the primary health care team about the implementation of integrated care of patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension in Slovenia: A qualitative study. BMC Health Services Research, 23, 953. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09353-3
Stojnić, N., Martens, M., Wouters, E., Chham, S., van Olmen, J., Danhieux, K., Ružić Gorenjec, N., Por, I., Poplas Susič, A., & Klemenc Ketiš, Z. (2024). Evaluation of the implementation of integrated primary care for patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension in Belgium, Cambodia and Slovenia. International Journal of Integrated Care, 24(2), 27. https://doi.org/10.5334/ijic.7664
Taggart, J., Williams, A., Dennis, S., Newall, A., Shortus, T., Zwar, N., Denney-Wilson, E., & Harris, M. F. (2012). A systematic review of interventions in primary care to improve health literacy for chronic disease behavioral risk factors. BMC Primary Care, 13, 49.
Widyahening, I. S. (2019). The role of primary health care in the prevention of noncommunicable diseases. Review of the Primary Care Practice and Education (Kajian Praktik dan Pendidikan Layanan Primer), 2(1), 5–7. https://doi.org/10.22146/rpcpe.44464
World Health Organization. (2025). Digital health for noncommunicable diseases. WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean. https://www.emro.who.int/noncommunicable-diseases/digital-health/
Xiong, S., Lu, H., Peoples, N., Duman, E. K., Najarro, A., Ni, Z., Gong, E., Yin, R., Ostbye, T., Palileo Villanueva, L. M., Doma, R., Kafle, S., Tian, M., & Yan, L. L. (2023). Digital health interventions for non-communicable disease management and prevention in primary health care: A scoping review. Digital Medicine, 6, 186. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-023-00764-4
Xu, H., & Leon, N. (2023). Implementation considerations for non-communicable disease-related integration in primary health care: A rapid review of qualitative evidence. BMC Health Services Research, 23, 169. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09091-6
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Martyna Kadłubańska, Natalia Piasecka, Karolina Szpilczyńska, Natalia Miara, Joanna Strzyż, Dorota Szydłowska, Aleksandra Baraniecka, Melania Majewska
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
All articles are published in open-access and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). Hence, authors retain copyright to the content of the articles.
CC BY 4.0 License allows content to be copied, adapted, displayed, distributed, re-published or otherwise re-used for any purpose including for adaptation and commercial use provided the content is attributed.
How to Cite
