Presentation of the research project during the Pedagogical Congress
During her participation in the 12th National Pedagogical Congress, co-financed by the UNIC Expert Voices Fund, our expert presented the assumptions and partial results of the international research project "Memorable messages as part of communication in formal and informal caregiving for women with breast cancer."
International cooperation within the UNIC Alliance
Dr Mazurek implemented the project as part of a grant obtained in the "Short-Term Researcher Mobility to Partner Universities in the UNIC Alliance" call (2023 edition). She summarised her research reflections in the paper "(Un)Supportive Communication in the Healthcare System for Cancer Patients in Poland and Croatia. An Andragogical Perspective."
The importance of communication in the doctor-patient relationship
Communication between a patient and a doctor is a key element in building trust or fostering distrust. Some words spoken by a doctor can be remembered by the patient for a long time, simultaneously influencing their value system, lifestyle, beliefs and attitudes. Therefore, they are important for lifelong learning. In the literature, these are referred to as memorable messages, and research on them was initiated in the 1980s by Mark L. Knapp, Cynthia Stohl, and Kathleen K. Reardon. This concept has not been used in Poland until now
– explains Dr Emilia Mazurek.
Study objectives and results
One of the study's goals was to reconstruct the memorable messages breast cancer patients received from their doctors and to clarify which of them build trust in doctors and which lead to distrust. It was also important for us to determine the consequences of such messages from the patient perspective and whether there are differences between Poland and Croatia in this regard. This issue is significant given the Ipsos Global Trustworthiness Index 2024 report, which shows that Poles have a low level of trust in doctors (41%), compared to the average for all 32 countries surveyed (58%)
– says the researcher.
The need for education in communication in oncology care
While analysing patient experiences, we collected data on supportive, seemingly supportive, and unsupportive communications. The lack of expected information, apologies and offers of support also proved significant. The results highlight the need for communication education for medical staff, patients and their caregivers, which aligns with the UNIC Alliance's goals of inclusion and empowerment
– adds the researcher
Get familiar with the details of the study
If you would like to learn about partial results of the study, we encourage you to read the scientific article in English.
The value of participating in the conference
Participating in the Pedagogical Congress in Olsztyn was exceptional for me. I had the pleasure of listening to many inspiring lectures, spending time with an excellent group of people, and also talking about my research experiences resulting from cooperation within the UNIC Alliance. Such meetings are of immense value in scientific work. It was also an opportunity to talk about the UNIC Alliance and present my research project completed in cooperation with the University of Zagreb. Participating in the conference is a continuation of the series of lectures aimed at disseminating the completed project and the research results
– concludes Dr Mazurek.
Photo: Archives of the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn
Support for scientific mobility within UNIC
The UNIC Expert Voices Fund provides UL academic, professional staff and students with mobility grants to attend conferences, trainings, or workshops, where they can disseminate the results of collaboration with UNIC alliance partners. You can read more about the project on its website.
Organisation of the 12th National Pedagogical Congress
The 12th National Pedagogical Congress, titled "Humanity as a Problem of Pedagogy and the Task of Education," was organised in Olsztyn by the Polish Pedagogical Society and the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn. Honorary patrons of the event included the Minister of Science and Higher Education, the Children's Ombudsman, the Voivode of Warmia and Mazury, the Marshal of the Warmia-Mazury Voivodeship, the Mayor of Olsztyn, the Rector of the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, and the Committee on Pedagogical Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences.
Edit: Bartosz Kałużny, Centre for External Relations and Social Responsibility of the University, University of Lodz
