Breaking Bad News

الملخص

Breaking bad news is one of a physician's most difficult duties, yet medical education typically offers little formal preparation for this daunting task. Without proper training, the discomfort and uncertainty associated with breaking bad news may lead physicians to emotionally disengage from patients. Numerous study results show that patients generally desire frank and empathetic disclosure of a terminal diagnosis or other bad news. Focused training in communication skills to facilitate breaking bad news has been demonstrated to improve patient satisfaction and physician comfort. Physicians can build on the SPIKE protocol organised recommendations into the mnemonic SPIKES: Setting up, Perception, Invitation, Knowledge, Emotions, Strategy and summary rather simple and a useful approach. This approach is intended to help clinicians break bad news to patients in a straightforward and empathic manner.