Breaking Bad News - Perceptions of Pediatric Residents

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Pediatric Residency Training
• Clinical Communication Skills

Background:

• Effective communication is crucial in pediatric patient care.
• Breaking bad news is a sensitive yet essential skill for physicians.
• Pediatric residents require adequate training in delivering difficult news.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the perceptions and practices of pediatric residents regarding breaking bad news.
• To identify the extent of communication skills training received by final year pediatric residents.
• To evaluate resident comfort levels when delivering bad news to patients and families.

Main Methods:

• A survey was conducted among 92 final year pediatric residents.
• The survey assessed resident training in communication skills.
• Resident comfort levels in breaking bad news were evaluated.

Main Results:

• Only 16% of surveyed residents reported receiving any communication skills training.
• A significant majority (65%) of residents expressed discomfort when breaking bad news.
• The study highlights a substantial deficit in preparedness for delivering bad news among pediatric residents.

Conclusions:

• Pediatric residency programs need to enhance communication skills training, particularly in breaking bad news.
• Improved training can increase resident confidence and competence in delivering difficult information.
• Addressing this training gap is essential for better patient and family-centered care in pediatrics.