Public Health Weekly Report · Oct 29, 2026

Need for and Key Outcomes of a Community-based Frailty Prevention Program: The Busan Health UP Program and Operational Experience in Haeundae-gu

By Ahn Y

Objectives: This article aims to describe the structure and implementation of the Health UP Program, a community-based frailty prevention initiative launched in Busan in 2024 through Community Health Centers, and to examine its implementation, operational experience, and outcomes at four centers in Haeundae-gu. It also seeks to identify future directions and policy implications for community-based frailty prevention. Methods: The Health UP Program framework, launched in 2024, was reviewed, focusing on early frailty screening; multidomain interventions including exercise, nutrition, cognition, and social participation; and a resident-participatory ongoing management structure linking Community Health Groups, Community Health Leaders, and HAHA Health Partners. Pre- and post-program assessment data from 139 participants in Haeundae-gu were analyzed using a two-sided Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: The program successfully integrated frailty screening, multidomain interventions, and resident participation through Community Health Centers. Pre- and post-program assessments demonstrated significant improvements in handgrip strength and chair-stand performance, alongside reductions in depression and social isolation (p<0.001). Community Health Groups and Community Health Leaders supported post-program health activities, while HAHA Health Partners facilitated program implementation and ongoing resident activities. Conclusions: The Busan model integrates frailty screening, multidomain interventions, and resident-participatory ongoing management through Community Health Centers. The Haeundae-gu experience demonstrates the feasibility of this approach in community settings, offering a practical foundation to expand community-based frailty prevention and inform future national policies on frailty prevention and community integrated care.

doi.org/10.56786/phwr.2026.19.41suppl.4Open accessPubMed 42968858Interventions