Download - Breaking Bad News
Dr. Riaz QureshiDistinguished Professor Family MedicineDept. of Family & Community Medicine
King Saud University ,Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Learning Objectives for Students/Trainees:
To understand why this is an important part of communication skills. To understand the definition of bad news. The students/trainees should become aware of:
What to do? How to do it? What not to do?
Students/Trainees should also become familiar with certain illnesses/ problems which may require giving bad news.
Breaking Bad NewsA difficult but fundamentally important task
for all health care professionals
Physicians feel uncertain & uncomfortable while breaking bad news, leading to being distant & disengaged from their patients.
Breaking Bad NewsRecent studies have shown that:Patients generally (50-90%) desire full &
frank disclosure, though a sizeable minority still may not want the full disclosure. (Ley p. Giving information to patients. New York: Wiley, 1982 )
Focused training in communication skills & techniques to facilitate breaking of bad news has been demonstrated to improve patients satisfaction & physicians comfort.
What is bad news?“any news that drastically and negatively
alters the patients view towards his future.” Buckman R. BMJ1984
It alters one’s self-image : “I left my house as one person & came home another.”
Professional cyclist Lance Armstrong’s recollection
Examples reported by clinical consultants Examples of Conditions Requiring Breaking of Bad News
Cancer related diagnosesIntra uterine foetal demiseLife long illness: Diabetes, EpilepsyPoor prognosis related to chronic diseases: loss of
independence Informing parents about their child’s serious
mental/physical handicapGiving diagnosis of serious sexually transmitted disease …
catastrophic psychosocial resultsNon clinical situations like giving feedback to poorly
performing trainees or colleagues
Psychosocial ContextPatients response is influenced by previous
experiences & current social circumstances---inappropriate timing
Even simple diagnosis being incompatible with one’s profession---tremors in cardiac surgeon.
Varying needs of patient & family---patient wishes to know more himself & less information to pass on to family, family wishes vice versa.
Barriers to effective disclosureIt is referred by some physicians like “dropping
the bomb” Baile W F, oncologist 2000
Common Barriers includePhysician’s fears of :
Being blamed by patientNot knowing all the answersInflicting pain & sufferingsOwn illness & death
Lack of trainingLack of time Multiple physicians---who should perform the
task
Patient’s perspectiveMost important factors for patients include:
Physician’s competence, honesty & attention The time allowed for questionsStraightforward & understandable diagnosisThe use of clear language
Parker PA, Baile WF j.clinical onc 2001
Family's perspectiveFamily members prefer:
privacyGood attitude of the person who gives the bad
newsClarity of message Competency of physiciansTime for questions
Jurkovich GJ, et al. J Trauma 200
Delivering Bad News “It is not an isolated skill but a particular
form of communication.” Frank A. Eur J of Palliat care 1997
Rabow & Mcphee (West J. Med 1999) described: “Clinicians focus often on relieving patients’ bodily pain, less often on their emotional distress & seldom on their suffering.”
Delivering Bad NewsRabow & Mcphee (West J. Med 1999)
synthesized a simple mnemonic of ABCDE:
Advance PreparationBuild a therapeutic
environment/relationshipCommunicate wellDeal with patient & family reactionsEncourage and validate emotions
Advance PreparationFamiliarize yourself with the relevant clinical
information (investigations, hospital report)
Arrange for adequate time in private, comfortable environment
Instruct staff not to interrupt
Be prepared to provide at least basic information about prognosis and treatment options (so do read it up)
Advance PreparationMentally rehearse how you will deliver the
news. You may wish to practice out loud
Script specific words & phrases to use or to avoid
Be prepared emotionally
Build a therapeutic environment/relationshipIntroduce yourself to everyone present
Summarise where things have got to date, check with patient/relative
Discover what has happened since last seen Judge how the patient is feeling/thinking
Determine the patient’s preferences for what and how much he/she wants to know
Build a therapeutic environment/relationship (contd)Warning shot “I’m afraid it looks more
serious than we had hoped”
Use touch where appropriate
Pay attention to verbal & non verbal cues Avoid inappropriate humour Assure patient that you will be available
Communicate wellSpeak frankly but compassionatelyAvoid medical jargonAllow silence & tears; proceed at patient’s paceHave the patient describe his/her understanding
of the information givenEncourage questions Write things down & provide written information
Conclude each visit with a summary & follow up plan
Deal with patient and family reactions Assess & respond to emotional reactions Be aware of cognitive coping (denial,
blame, guilt, disbelief, acceptance, intellectualization)
Allow for “shut down”, when patient turns off & stops listening
Be empathetic; it is appropriate to say “I’m sorry or I don’t know. Crying may be appropriate
Don’t argue or criticize colleagues
Encourage and validate emotions Offer realistic hope
Give adequate information to facilitate decision making
Explore what the news means to the patient
& inquire about spiritual needs
Inquire about the support systems in place
Encourage and validate emotionsAttend to your own needs during and
following the delivery of bad news (counter-transference can be harmful)
Use multidisciplinary services to enhance patient care ( hospice)
Formal or informal debriefing session with concerned team members may be appropriate
What to do?Introduce yourselfLook to comfort and privacyDetermine what the patient already knowsWarn the patient that bad news is comingBreak the Bad NewsIdentify the patient’s main concernSummarize and check understandingOffer realistic hopeArrange follow up and make sure that some
one is with the patient when he leaves
How to do it ?Be sensitiveBe empathic and consider appropriate
touchingMaintain eye contact Give information in small chunksRepeat and clarifyRegularly check understandingDo not be afraid of silence or tearsExplore patient’s emotions and give him time
to respondBe honest if you are unsure about something
What not to do ?HurryGive all the information in one goGive too much informationUse medical jargon or unclear
language/wordsLie or be economical with the truthBe blunt. Words can be like loaded
pistols/gunsGuess the prognosis (She has got 6 months,
may be 7)
QuotationThe greatest revolution of our generation
is the discovery that human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds , can change the outer aspects of their lives.William James American Psychologist & Philosopher
Angry PatientWHAT TO DO?Introduce yourselfAcknowledge the person’s angerTry to find out the reason for his anger, e.g.
frustration, fear or guiltValidate his feelingsLet him ventilate his anger or any feelings
that led to his angerOffer to do something or for him to do
something
Angry PatientHOW TO DO IT?Sit at the same level as the patient, not too
close and not too far, with eye contactSpeak calmly without raising your voiceAvoid dismissive or threatening body
languageEncourage the person to speak with open
ended questionsEmpathize as much as you can with verbal
and non verbal cuesBe aware of your own safety
Angry patientWHAT NOT TO DO?Glare at the personConfront him or interrupt himPatronize him or touch himPut the blame on others/seek to exonerate
yourselfMake unreasonable promisesBlock his exitIf the person is a patient’s relative, be mindful
about confidentiality
SCENARIOTariq, a 55-year-old chain smoker taxi driver with persistent cough for 3 months, attends your clinic to find out the biopsy report of a lesion shown on a chest x-ray and CT scan. He is rather anxious, that he has a serious condition.
His biopsy report confirms that he has a Bronchogenic Carcinoma of right lung.
You are required to proceed with this consultation.
Scenario No 2A 54-year-old lady attends your clinic to find
out the result of an MRI of her spine. She has had constant pain all over her spine for the last 2 months. She also has a history of Breast cancer, which was treated 5 years ago.
Her report shows that she has secondaries all over her spine
Proceed with this consultation. (Examination not required)