Poland
Dear fellow caregivers,
You are welcoming a patient from Poland.
Here is a list of useful information to know in the context of his medical care.
General Information
Distance Paris ✈ Warsaw:849 miles
38.4 million inhabitants / Average salary: $1,055 per month
Literacy rate: 99.70% / Life expectancy: 77.90 years
Spoken language : Polish
● Poles can be slow to interact with individuals from different cultures and countries.
● The most common diseases are: COVID-19, tick-borne encephalitis, hepatitis A, tuberculosis, typhoid and Zika.
Communication
● Poles are generally quiet and reserved who avoid loud behavior in public.
Beliefs, Practices & Rituals
● About 95% of the Polish population is Catholic and celebrates major Catholic holidays.
● Traditionally, families often go to church.
Eating habits
● The Polish diet is generally high in fat and meals often consist of potatoes and wheat or rye products.
Pregnancy and motherhood
● When a child is sick, Polish parents have the habit of massaging it with a greasy cream with alcohol.
● Breastfeeding is an extremely common practice.
● In Poland, abortion is illegal except in cases of danger to the mother’s life, rape or incest.
End-of-life care
● The services of a chaplain are usually requested by Polish patients/families.
● After death, the body is taken home for a wake, followed by a church service and burial.
Exemples
This section allows us to share experiences. Feel free to share yours with the community.
● Cleveland Clinic – Diversity Toolkit