Better Communication, More Effective Treatment
“In Poland, there are no empirical studies describing the level of patients’ health literacy and its impact on how they assess communication with doctors and nurses. We also lack data on how it affects trust and, above all, patients’ adherence – their willingness to follow medical recommendations,” explains Dr. hab. Antonina Doroszewska, Head of the Medical Communication Department. “As we know, non-adherence is a major challenge both for the healthcare system as a whole and for patients’ quality of life.”
Dr. hab. Doroszewska also emphasizes that there is lack of analyses in Poland demonstrating the importance of plain language in written communication with patients. Furthermore, there are no healthcare sector guidelines on how to adapt communication for patients with varying levels of health literacy.
The project developed by our researchers aims to fill these gaps and provide practical guidance for healthcare institutions. Its outcomes will include educational materials, instructional videos, and a collection of best practices for medical professionals, helping them create communication that is clearer and more effective for patients. Ultimately, this may contribute to improving the quality of healthcare and reducing health inequalities.
What the study will involve
The project consists of five complementary research stages. First, patient surveys and assessments will be conducted to evaluate health literacy levels, experiences related to primary healthcare visits, and subsequent adherence to medical recommendations. Next, researchers will examine how physicians and nurses communicate with patients of varying health literacy levels. Third, patient information materials will be analyzed based on plain-language principles. Fourth, patients will evaluate the usefulness of these materials themselves. Finally, the team will validate the Polish version of a questionnaire concerning shared decision-making between patients and healthcare professionals.
“Our study will be the first empirical investigation in Poland to address issues that have not previously been directly linked to communication and quality of care, namely patients’ health literacy and the role of plain language in communication between healthcare professionals and patients,” explains Dr. hab. Doroszewska.
An Interdisciplinary Initiative
“For several years, through both our teaching and research activities at the Department of Medical Communication, we have highlighted the need for an interdisciplinary approach to issues related to medical communication. Therefore, the study’s objectives and the team’s composition reflect this interdisciplinary perspective,” says the head of the department.
Researchers from the Medical University of Warsaw and other medical universities in Poland, as well as representatives of the Polish Society of Family Medicine, will participate in the project. The team will include physicians, sociologists, psychologists, linguists, medical communication experts, and a public health specialist.
Science for Social Development Program
In the third funding round of the Science for Social Development program, the Minister of Science and Higher Education awarded funding to 35 projects, with a total value of nearly PLN 58.5 million.
The program aims to support entities within the higher education and science system, as well as other organizations involved in promoting science, in conducting research with practical application potential, building cooperation between research institutions and socio-economic stakeholders, and implementing solutions that benefit national, regional, and local communities.
The program provides funding for research projects in four areas: New Horizons of Science, Science for Innovation, Physical Activity for an Active and Healthy Society, Social Medicine.