Keywords: Krokovačka, movement as medicine, community

Background:

It started in Slovakia in 2019, at the 24th WONCA European Conference in Bratislava. Doctors took a walk for health with our Olympic gold medallist Matej Tóth. This event is held annually to celebrate World Family Doctors Day on 19 May. Krokovačka is a community-based health promotion event in Slovakia, organized by general practitioners with a simple but powerful idea: let’s take steps for our health – together. The word "krokovačka" is derived from the Slovak word "krok" (step) and embodies the event’s core philosophy: movement as medicine, and connection as prevention.. What makes Krokovačka unique is its local authenticity, low cost, replicability and the emotional impact it leaves on participants. There are only a few such events around the world on World Family Doctors Day and they were mentioned in President's messages (July 2024) by WONCA President Assoc Prof Karen Flegg.

Aim of the study:

• Encourage physical activity among all age groups, especially in areas where sedentary lifestyle is common.
• Strengthen relationships between general practitioners and their patients outside the clinical setting.
• Raise awareness about cardiovascular, metabolic and mental health prevention.
• Celebrate the role of rural doctors in health education and lifestyle medicine.
• Doctor as a leader in his/her patient community
• Share our experience in organizing this event, ease of preparation, replicability and low cost of this event.

Methodology:

Photo documentation, report

Results:

1. Promotion of a healthy lifestyle
2. Building good community relations, a spirit of belonging
3. Building the physician's position as a leader in their patient community
4. Low cost, short preparation time
5. local authenticity, replicability

Conclusions:

We warmly invite all physicians and their patients to join and do something good for their community. From the region to the whole country, from the country to Europe, from Europe to the world.