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Humanisation of medicine in European countries and other continents

10 May 2023

The humanisation of medicine is an approach that has become increasingly popular worldwide over the past few decades. In European countries and on other continents, more and more doctors and medical facilities are taking steps to shift their approach towards a more humanistic approach to treating patients.

In Europe, one country that shows particular concern for the humanisation of medicine is Spain. The Ministry of Health there, as early as 2010, produced a report entitled 'Humanising healthcare', which promotes an approach based on 'respect, empathy, understanding, acceptance and respect for patient autonomy'. Spain also has training programmes for doctors that focus on developing communication and interpersonal skills, which helps them to better understand patients' needs.

In Poland, more and more medical facilities are taking steps to improve the humanisation of medicine. The introduction of standards of patient care, which also include aspects related to communication, respect for the dignity and autonomy of the patient, are already the norm. Cooperation between patients and doctors is becoming more of a partnership and doctors are becoming more open to the needs and expectations of patients.

In the United States, the trend of humanising medicine is also growing. Many medical schools are introducing special training programmes for students that focus on developing communication and interpersonal skills. According to some experts, the humanisation of medicine is particularly important in the US, due to the rising cost of healthcare and the increasing time pressure on doctors, which often leads to the neglect of patients' needs.

In Asia, the trend towards the humanisation of medicine is also gaining ground. In China, the government has issued special guidelines on 'humane medical care', which focus on providing patients with appropriate medical care and emotional support in difficult situations. In Japan, the humanisation of medicine has become one of the priorities in the healthcare system, which manifests itself, among other things, in an increasingly open dialogue between doctors and patients.

In summary, the humanisation of medicine is an approach that is gaining popularity around the world. In European countries, North America and Asia, more and more doctors, medical facilities and governments are taking steps to introduce a more humanistic approach to treating patients.

Implementing standards of care, training doctors in communication and interpersonal skills, and providing patients with appropriate medical care and emotional support in difficult situations are just some of the measures being taken to humanise medicine.

One of the main reasons why the humanisation of medicine is becoming more and more popular is the change in the perception of the role of doctor and patient. More and more people are realising that the patient is not just a medical case, but above all a human being who has his or her own needs, expectations and values. A doctor who is able to understand this and adapt his or her approach to the patient's needs is able to provide better medical care and emotional support.

The humanisation of medicine also has a positive impact on the relationship between doctors and patients. When patients feel understood and respected, they are more likely to trust the doctor and to engage in open dialogue. In turn, a doctor who treats a patient with respect and empathy receives more trust and job satisfaction from the patient.

It is also worth noting that the humanisation of medicine benefits not only patients, but also doctors and the healthcare system as a whole. A doctor who is able to communicate better with the patient and adapt his or her approach to the patient's needs is able to counter medical errors more effectively and improve the quality of medical care.

In summary, the humanisation of medicine is an approach that is gaining popularity around the world. Implementing standards of care, training physicians in communication and interpersonal skills, and providing patients with appropriate medical care and emotional support in difficult situations are just some of the measures being taken to humanise medicine.