Breaking Bad News

MAHRUKH JAVAID
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST
AKHTER SAEED MEDICAL & DENTAL COLLEGE
Provides clear, evidenced based
information on the patients condition.
Using principles of effective
communication, counseling and
informational care discussed earlier.

BIO-PSYCHO-SOCIAL MODEL
EXCLUSIVITY:
Find a private room where the doctor and patient can
focus on the subject attentively.
Involvement of significant other:
Some patients like to have family members or friends
around them they received bad news while others
prefer to hear bad news alone.
Seating arrangements:
Comfortably and respectfully seated next to each other
Distance of an arm’s length

STEP 1: SEATING AND

SETTING(ENVIRONMENT)
Maintained eye contact
Show your attention
Listening mode:
Silence and repetition of last few words that
the patients has said.
Availability:
Make yourself available to the patient for all
his queries and doubts for the duration that
you are with him or her.

Be attentive and calm

Ask what do you know?
Aap apni bemaari kai baray mai kya
jantay hain?

STEP 2: Patients Perception:

ASK What would you like to know?
Aap bemari k baray mai kya janna
chahain ge?

STEP 3: INVITATION:
JHSSSBS
STEP 5
You and your patient should go away from
the interview with a clear plan for the next
steps that need to be taken and the role
you both would play in the management
of issues.

STEP 7: Plan of Action: