Developing an effective and comprehensive communication curriculum for undergraduate medical education in Poland - the review and recommendations.

Background: The recognition of the importance of effective communication in the healthcare system has been growing. Given that communication courses must be adjusted to the specificity of a particular culture, language, and other contextual issues, many countries and communities sharing a common language have proposed their recommendations for a communication curriculum for undergraduate medical education. To date, no recommendations have been developed for either any Central and Eastern Europe countries or for regions where Slavic languages are spoken.

Shared decision-making in Poland: State of the art, challenges and opportunities.

The purpose of the present paper is to review the progress in recognition and implementation of shared decision-making (SDM) practice in the Polish health care system. In Poland, equal access to health care is a constitutional right. The foundations for SDM practice within the Polish health care system are laid in legislation regulating the professions of doctors and dentists, as well as patients' rights, which assert the duty of physicians to provide clear and patient-adjusted information on diagnostic and treatment options, health status and prognosis before obtaining consent.