Breaking Bad News 3: Encouraging the Adoption of Best Practices

Abstract

Steps to encourage clinicians to adopt the best practices for communicating bad news to patients are outlined. First, official, credible guidelines endorsed by key organizations or professional bodies, giving a clear message about the components and importance of the best practices, must be produced. Second, the guidelines should be disseminated; publication in journals or mailing to clinicians is unlikely to be sufficient. Third, clinicians should be provided with feedback on whether their performance meets established standards. This requires acceptable systems to collect valid and reliable performance data. Fourth, clinicians need contingencies for providing best practice care, Fifth, barriers to improvement should be explored and strategies to address them, including interactional skills training, implemented. Continuous quality assurance, commitment, and evaluations will help clinicians use the best practices for breaking bad news to patients.

Index Terms:

• breaking bad news
• cancer
• interpersonal skills
• interpersonal skills
• practice guidelines

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Elizabeth M. Campbell

Dr Campbell is Senior Project Officer, National Cancer Control Initiative, and Dr Sanson-Fisher is with the New South Wales Council Cancer Education Research Program (CERP) in Newcastle, Australia.