Abstract:

There is a growing awareness of the importance of soft competencies in training and development of professionals such as doctors and nurses. Soft, interpersonal competencies are important first of all from the ethical perspective of healthcare professionals working with people but they also become especially important in a highly competitive environment of health sector with its focus on clients.

In such a context, it is quite obvious that medical universities tend to introduce these issues in the programmes they offer for future doctors and nurses.
The main aim of the presented research was to determine and describe the content of the curricula of medical and nursing studies at medical universities across Poland in the area of “soft” competencies development. The authors have analysed programmes of studies, curricula of certain subjects and descriptions of learning effects for studies of medicine and nursing at the ten biggest and leading medical universities in Poland.

They focus on different types of knowledge, skills and competencies that are connected to the development of “soft” competencies needed during work with patients. The results of the analysis are then the basis for some recommendations for those responsible for university programmes for medical students.

Keywords:

Medicine and nursing, soft competencies, medical studies.