Receiving Bad News Analysis

As determined by Orgel, McCarter, & Jacobs (2010), many health care professionals do not feel confident that they have the necessary knowledge of communication techniques to deliver bad news to patients. In their study, pediatric residents, fellows, and attendings responded to questions regarding comfort level and knowledge level in disclosing distressing news in the medical field. Of the participants, 75% of the residents, 60% of the fellows, and 40% of the attendings assessed that their knowledge level was insufficient. In contrast, 85% of fellows and 94% of attendings felt comfortable delivering the bad news. Even though there is a lack of knowledge of these communication skills, comfort in giving the news increases with training level, …show more content…
When a patient or their family receives distressing news in a medical setting, it can influence how they view the medical field for a long time after the exchange. In fact, how bad news is received depends on the expectations of the receiver, their previous experiences with the medical field, and their general personality. Because of this, it is often difficult to predict how a patient will react to a medical diagnosis. Still, if distressing news is communicated in an effective and supportive manner, it can help with the patient’s understanding, acceptance, and adjustment. But when given poorly, it can result in distress, confusion, and resentment (Fallowfield, 2004). A patient’s dissatisfaction in the delivery of bad news could be the result of a physician’s distant or cold attitude, their overuse of medical terminology, their pessimism, or not providing information or referrals (Chisholm, 1997). But by following current guidelines, physicians can avoid these common pitfalls and promote a more positive experience for both …show more content…
One of which details an in utero diagnosis, and the other describes a diagnosis after delivery. Education about informed consent, screening tests for Down syndrome, and nondirective counseling is provided for the prenatal diagnosis section of this tutorial. And information about breast-feeding and nutrition, the characteristics of Down syndrome, recurrence data, and support group information is detailed for the postnatal diagnosis portion. In both cases, the tutorial delivers key information on how to prepare to give this information to new and prospective parents. The Brighter Tomorrows tool also provides resources for new and established physicians so that they can further educate themselves on this