Identifying Dostors' Problems In Breaking Bad News: An Initial Step In Developing Recommendations For The Curriculum
Abstract: The skill of
breaking bad news is listed in the 2012 Indonesia’s Doctor Competency Standards
so that this becomes one of the skills that must be mastered by all doctors in
Indonesia. The curriculum of breaking bad news is much developed in western
cultural background. The curriculum may not necessarily be well developed in
Indonesia because the communication process is strongly influenced by culture.
Therefore, the exploration of the problems faced by the practitioner in
delivering bad news in the context of local cultural needs to be done as a
first step to develop the right educational curriculum and training.
Objective: This study aimed to identify problems of the practicing
doctors in delivering bad news to patients or their families in the context of
local culture (Banyumas).
Methods: This study was a qualitative research with a phenomenological
approach. The method used was in-depth interviews to the practicing doctors
with experience in delivering bad news selected from various educational
backgrounds, sex, and age.
Results: This study indicated that the doctors had difficulty in breaking
bad news. It was known from the attitude of the doctors who tended to avoid by
giving the task to others, to cover the actual condition of the patient or just
delivering the bad news to the family. The causes identified were the lack of
knowledge and skills, the lack of ability to control emotions, the lack of
confidence, the anxiety on the patient’s response, the knowledge gap between
doctors and patients, and the limitations of space and time.
Conclusion: The main problem of the practicing doctors in delivering bad
news was the lack of knowledge and skills. Therefore, it is necessary to
develop a training curriculum on breaking bad news adequately for basic and
advanced medical education.
Keywords: Doctor, breaking bad
news, communication skills, curriculum development
Penulis: Miko Ferine
Kode Jurnal: jpkedokterandd170009
