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Economica

Vol. 16 No. 1-2 (2025)
Articles

Doctor-patient and health team communication in the Visegrad countries – narrative review

Published:
2025-01-28
DOI Linkhttps://doi.org/10.47282/economica/2025/16/1-2/14677
Authors
Éva Julianna Pozsgai,
Klára Bíró
View
pdf (Hungarian)
Keywords
doctor-patient communication communication within the health team patient centered communication Visegrad countries
How To Cite
Selected Style: APA
Pozsgai, Éva J., & Bíró, K. (2025). Doctor-patient and health team communication in the Visegrad countries – narrative review. Economica, 16(1-2), 45-56. https://doi.org/10.47282/economica/2025/16/1-2/14677
Abstract

The study aimed to explore and compare preferences for doctor-patient communication and communication within healthcare teams in the Visegrad countries (Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary) through a general literature review. While each of these countries has independent studies on these topics, a comparative analysis using a single validated questionnaire was conducted by Bányai et al. (2021). Their research showed that factors like gender, age, education, and poor health status influence how patients perceive the quality of communication with doctors in all four countries. The study also found that communication within healthcare teams faces challenges due to personal, referral, and system-related barriers. Improving communication skills is crucial in preventing burnout and depersonalization among healthcare workers, and a well-designed communication training process can foster positive attitudes, particularly among specialist nurses. Independent researches from the four countries shows that patients value clear, accurate information about their illness, treatment options, and the effectiveness of care. Patient satisfaction was higher when they received good treatment along with straightforward information about their condition and clear explanations for their relatives. However, the communication skills of healthcare staff were seen as a weakness, and such skills were often not part of their training. To create a more patient-centered healthcare system, effective human resources programs need to be developed, and further research in health communication is necessary. The study suggests using the PPOS (Patient-Practitioner Orientation Scale) questionnaire to assess and compare healthcare professionals' attitudes towards communication across different levels of healthcare in these countries.

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