Educational program “Communication in the Treatment Process” – description, goals, and theoretical background

Abstract

Effective medical communication is an extremely important aspect of patient-centered medicine. It allows for achieving better treatment outcomes and is of key importance in the case of patients experiencing mental problems. Research clearly indicates that the quality of communication is a fundamental element of medical services, which not only affects patient satisfaction, but can also reduce the risk of burnout among staff who have contact with patients. A sense of mutual understanding translates into trust and contributes to more conscientious adherence to medical recommendations. Considering the cooperation of all medical and non-medical personnel, high-quality communication reduces the risk of tensions and conflicts, as well as the number of complaints reported by patients. Both research findings and our own experience show that individuals with mental disorders often feel misunderstood, stigmatised, or ignored by healthcare personnel. Based on the above assumptions, the experts from Józef Babiński Specialist Hospital in Kraków developed their own program entitled “Communication in the Treatment Process.” It was implemented in 2018 by the Ministry of Health among over 2,500 professionals in the Małopolskie and Podkarpackie provinces. The aim of the project was to improve the communication skills of medical and non-medical personnel in the context of communication with patients with mental disorders. The paper describes in detail the theoretical background, the goals, and the course of the program.