Interpersonal Communication within the Healthcare System in the Republic of Croatia

Authors

  • Vesna Sesar University North, Croatia
  • Kristina Bitanga University North, Croatia
  • Marko Antić University North, Croatia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54820/entrenova-2025-0027

Keywords:

communication, healthcare system, doctors, nurses, patients, education

Abstract

The effective functioning of the healthcare system and the quality of care provision are closely linked to the level of professional communication at all levels. Digital transformation alters business processes and communication protocols, representing both progress and challenge. Alongside medical knowledge and skills, interpersonal communication - between healthcare staff and patients as well as among staff - remains a core component of successful treatment. Professional communication builds trust, enables teamwork, and contributes to improved treatment outcomes. This study aimed to assess the current state of interpersonal communication in the healthcare system and the need for additional communication education among healthcare staff. The results revealed differences in the application of communication processes and varying educational needs. The study contributes guidelines for redesigning and continuously implementing communication education in healthcare, in order to adapt to evolving communication protocols driven by digitalization and other system transformations, and to support ongoing improvements in work processes and quality of care.

Author Biographies

  • Vesna Sesar, University North, Croatia

    Vesna Sesar is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Logistics and Sustainable Mobility, University North in Croatia. She holds an MBA in Management from the Faculty of Economics, University of Zagreb and PhD in Management from the joint doctoral studies of FH Burgenland in International Economic Relations and Management. Before starting scientific career, she gained professional experience in finances as financial analysis and accounting as head of accounting. She has published over 50 scientific articles, participated in numerous international conferences and worked on many scientific projects. Her research work is focused on the field of management, controlling and sustainability. The author can be contacted at mail: vesna.sesar@unin.hr

  • Kristina Bitanga, University North, Croatia

    Kristina Bitanga graduated from the Faculty of Political Science in Zagreb with a degree in journalism. Employed as a spokesperson at the Split Clinical Hospital Center. In a dynamic and demanding system such as public health, she performs advisory work in the field of public relations, communicates with the media on a daily basis, designs activities to improve the hospital's reputation in the public, creates content for the website and social networks, and cooperates and coordinates with state, public and social institutions and organizations. She is a PhD student at the University of the North in the field of media and communication. The author can be contacted at mail: krbitanga@unin.hr

  • Marko Antić, University North, Croatia

    Marko Antić holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in nursing and now he is a PhD student in the field of media and communication at University North, Croatia. His main research interests are related to communication in the healthcare system. Author can be contacted at marantic@unin.hr

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Published

2026-02-21

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 1 (2025)

Section

Business Administration & Business Economics, Marketing, Accounting

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Vesna Sesar, Kristina Bitanga, Marko Antić

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Interpersonal Communication within the Healthcare System in the Republic of Croatia. (2026). ENTRENOVA - ENTerprise REsearch InNOVAtion Journal, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.54820/entrenova-2025-0027