Communicating Bad News in Healthcare Professions
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Introduction[edit | edit source]
Bad news is defined as “any information that adversely and negatively affects the patients’ view of future”[1]. Breaking bad news is a sensitive, complex yet important communication skill that all healthcare professionals must be able to execute well and avoid a drastic effect on the patient experience. There are many benefits of communicating sad news, not only for the patient, but also for the medical team managing the patient. This empowers and informs the patient and allows them to plan ahead.
It is thought that many health professionals aren’t well skilled or haven’t learned the best, most compassionate techniques for delivering bad news to patients. They may assume that that particular skill is more necessary for other health professionals like an oncologist, palliative and end-of-life care etc. Yet, health professionals in almost every specialty will one day find themselves in a position of giving an unpleasant diagnosis or prognosis.
Why is it really necessary?[edit | edit source]
Breaking bad news has psychological effects on both patient and a professional[2]. Studies have shown that there is a need and interest for patients to know the truth about their conditions[3].If they feel that their health professional is not honest, it makes them more anxious and damages their trust which may increase risk situations, such as the probability of suicide or harm to others[4][5]. The reasons that prevents the professionals from telling the truth about a bad news include fear of being blamed, unexpected evoking reactions by the patients and their family, and expressing piteous emotions and questions[6][7]. In stead of the benefits of being truthful, if bad news is not delivered appropriately, it will have negative consequences. It is therefore relevant to tell the truth which has several benefits, such as strengthening the professional-patient relationship, less complains against the him/her and better decision making for the treatment process[8]
Approaches To Break Bad News[edit | edit source]
Being a health professional can be exhilarating and fulfilling when you are able to help patients recover from life threatening illnesses. But there are going to be times when you will need to tell a patient some negative information about their prognosis. Are you prepared to be the bearer of bad news? No one likes to be the bearer of bad news but in health care, it’s part of the job. Fortunately, there are ways to equip yourself to do your best in this difficult situation and get through it.
- What to consider
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References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Buckman RJBmj. Breaking bad news: why is it still so difficult? Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1984;288(6430):1597–9.
- ↑ Gorniewicz J, Floyd M, Krishnan K, Bishop TW, Tudiver F, Lang FJPe, et al. Breaking bad news to patients with cancer: a randomized control trial of a brief communication skills training module incorporating the stories and preferences of actual patients. Patient Educ Couns. 2017;100(4):655–666.
- ↑ Rozveh AK, Amjad RN, Rozveh JK, Rasouli DJIjoh-o, research sc. Attitudes toward telling the truth to cancer patients in Iran: a review article. Int J Hematol Oncol Stem Cell Res. 2017;11(3):178–184.
- ↑ Goebel S, Mehdorn HMJWn. Breaking Bad News to Patients with Intracranial Tumors: The Patients' Perspective. World Neurosurg. 2018;118:e254–e262.
- ↑ Hafidz MIA, Zainudin LDJMJM. Breaking Bad News: An essential skill for doctors. Med J Malaysia. 2016;71(1):26–7.
- ↑ Rising MLJJoTN. Truth telling as an element of culturally competent care at end of life. J Transcult Nurs. 2017;28(1):48–55.
- ↑ Craxì L, Di Marco V. Breaking bad news: How to cope. Digestive and Liver Disease. 2018.
- ↑ C Cardona M, Kellett J, Lewis E, Brabrand M, Ní Chróinín D. Truth disclosure on prognosis: Is it ethical not to communicate personalised risk of death? Int J Clin Pract. 2018:e13222.
