Breaking bad news preferences among healthcare professionals in Malaysian government hospitals

Abstract

For healthcare professionals, breaking bad news is considered to be difficult and complex. Trial and error, as well as observing seniors, are popular approaches used by healthcare practitioners to improve their skills. These channels of practice are not optimal, and they can have negative consequences for the quality of bad news delivery and overall healthcare. Communication training and the inclusion of breaking bad news models in the curriculum are among the efforts made by the healthcare business to provide skills to healthcare personnel, yet these efforts are found to be insufficient or non-existent. A client-centred approach, which originates from a patient-centred approach, is seen to be effective in assisting healthcare professionals in tailoring their bad news delivery to the needs and preferences of the clients who are the recipients of the news. This study conducted a survey of 100 current practising practitioners to determine their preferences around the delivery of bad news. The data from the survey was analysed using descriptive synthesis analysis. The findings of the study were presented in two main categories: (i) Demographic details and health profiles, and (ii) Breaking bad news preferences. According to the findings, the respondents’ preferences for conveying bad news are similar to one breaking bad news model, the SPIKES model. This research is believed to add to the existing literature on practises of healthcare providers when it comes to delivering bad news.