Delivering bad news: patient’s perspective and opinions

Figures & data

Table 1 Characteristics of respondents (N=314)

	N	%
Gender
Female	248	79
Male	66	21
Education
Primary education	4	1.5
Lower-secondary education	4	1.5
Vocational education	15	5
Secondary education	105	33
Higher education	186	59
Place where bad news was delivered
Public clinic	47	15
Public polyclinic	45	14.5
Private polyclinic	20	6.5
Private clinic	8	2.5
Private doctor’s office	29	9
Hospital	165	52.5
Type of disease
Tumors	119	38
Nervous system diseases	61	19
Disorders of pancreatic internal secretion	29	9
Blood disorders and cardiovascular diseases	26	8
Musculoskeletal diseases	18	6
Genitourinary system’s diseases	14	5
Mental and behavioral disorders	9	3
Skin diseases	9	3
Eye diseases	8	2.5
Other	21	6.5
Marital status
Single	111	35.5
Married	167	53
Widow/widower	17	5.5
Divorced	19	6
Age
18–30 years	78	25
31–40 years	84	27
41–50 years	65	21
51–60 years	44	14
61 years and more	43	13
Visit payer
National Health Fund	254	81
Insurance company	5	1.5
Own resources	46	14.5
I do not remember	9	3
Medical specialization
Neurologist	54	17
Hematologist	41	13
Oncologist	37	12
Surgeon	29	9
Gynecologist	25	8
Endocrinologist	21	7
General physician	21	7
Rheumatologist	10	3
Cardiologist	10	3
Other: psychiatrist, etc	66	21

Table 2 Evaluation of the completeness of information related to bad news (N=314)

Did the doctor inform the patient about	The doctor informed the patient in a fully comprehensive way		The doctor informed the patient in a partially comprehensive way		The doctor did not inform the patient
	N	%	N	%	N	%
Causes of the disease	78	25	109	35	127	40
Prognosis	107	34	146	46	61	19
Further treatment	118	37	106	33.5	90	28.5
Different methods of treatment	85	27	87	28	142	45
Consequences of the lack of treatment	95	30	71	27	148	47
Recommendations related to everyday conduct (eg, diet, physical activities)	83	26	91	29	140	45

Table 3 Evaluation of the doctor’s behavior during DBN (N=314)

Did the doctor use any of the following behavior patterns while DBN	Yes		No		I do not remember
	N	%	N	%	N	%
Used incomprehensible medical terminology	81	26	187	59.5	46	14.5
Downplayed the problem	68	22	221	70	25	8
Encouraged the patient to ask questions	73	23	196	63	45	14
Encouraged the patient to individually deepen his/her knowledge about the disease	61	19	219	70	34	11
Informed the patient about the sources of additional information about the disease	38	12	246	78	30	10

Abbreviation: DBN, delivering bad news.

Table 4 Patient’s feelings during DBN (N=314)

While receiving bad news I felt that the doctor	Yes		No		I do not remember
	N	%	N	%	N	%
Was fully focused on me and my problem	150	48	126	40	38	12
Showed interest in the way I was feeling	130	40.5	156	50	28	9.5
Made me feel I that can trust him	168	53.5	122	39	24	7.5
Tried to alleviate my worry	121	38.5	151	48	42	13.5
Was being honest with me	240	76.5	39	12.5	35	11

Abbreviation: DBN, delivering bad news.