Clare Warnock Practice development sister
WPH
How would you describe breaking bad news
Who does it
What is bad news
Traditional view ◦ the moment when a doctor provides significant
information about diagnosis, prognosis or treatment to patients and their families in a one to one consultation
◦ the role of the HCP is to be present as a witness to what has been said and providing support once the consultation is over
“Modern view” ◦ A wide range of HCPs are involved in BBN ◦ Other information can be classified as bad news ◦ BBN is a process
There may be multiple episodes of information provision often “ad hoc” and not part of a pre-planned consultation
It also includes activities that take place before, during and after bad news is given
any bad, sad or significant information that negatively alters a person’s expectation or perception of their present or future (Fallowfield and Jenkins 2004)
Key items ◦ ANY information
◦ Individual expectation
◦ Individual perception
What do you think could classify as bad news?
Examples ◦ informing relatives of a patient’s deterioration or death, ◦ advising a patient that they need to move into a
residential home, ◦ explaining the details of arduous treatment such as
renal dialysis or chemotherapy, ◦ providing daily updates to family members when a
patient’s condition is not improving ◦ explaining transitions in care for example from curative
to palliative to end of life ◦ failed discharge plans ◦ Telling someone they can’t drive any more
the same information could be interpreted as good, bad or neutral by different people
influenced by subjective factors ◦ patient’s expectations, values, life experiences and
social situation
◦ the events leading up to and surrounding the moment that the information is given
How might different people react to being told they need to have surgery?
BBN is not about a single consultation
Dewar’s early work in spinal injury unit ◦ Initial moment
◦ Followed by multiple episodes of potential bad news
Realising the implications of spinal injury over time
It also involves the activities that take place before, during and after bad news is given
Assessing the needs of patients and relatives for further information; recognising their cues and prompts
Working with the patient and family to achieve consensus when there are issues about who should be informed
Identifying and prioritising the patient’s preferences for information
Liaising with the appropriate members of the healthcare team to initiate discussions where the need is identified or requested
Coaching and supporting patients and relatives who find it difficult to ask questions or talk to the doctors
Helping patients ask questions when they appear to be confused or reluctant to do so
Supporting others who are providing the information to find alternative words or explanations if the patient appears not to understand or needs clarification
Communicating what has been said in the consultation to the rest of the healthcare team
Eliciting patient and relatives’ feelings about the information they have received
Listening to and acknowledging the emotional reactions of patients and relatives to bad news
Explaining and discussing the information received and its implications
Answering questions as they arise, identifying and clarifying misunderstanding and explaining complex medical terminology
Providing information about the next steps in the care pathway
Helping the patient and relatives make decisions about care
Helping patients and relatives address complex issues e.g. what is meant by DNAR, informed consent, advanced care directives
Supporting patients and relatives when they realise the implications of their situation or the information they have been given
Helping the family reach a consensus when there is disagreement between them about the plan of care
Acting as an intermediary between patients, relatives and the healthcare team
Patient preference – research consistently shows ◦ Most patients want to be informed
variations in the depth and level of knowledge desired
Other potential positive outcomes ◦ building a sense of trust between patients and the
healthcare team
◦ enabling patients and relatives to make appropriate decisions and plans based on a realistic insight into their situation
What are the negative consequences of not providing patients with bad news?
Impact on treatment and decision making
Patients receiving burdensome, inappropriate and unnecessary treatment
False optimism and being unable to marry what is happening with the information received
Misunderstanding and confusion over the intention and aim of treatment
Denying patients the opportunity to participate in decision making
Unnecessary anxiety in worrying about the unknown
Impact on end of life care
Depriving patients and families of essential time before the patient’s condition deteriorates
Preventing the discussion of end of life preferences
Denying patients the opportunity to get their affairs in order
Impact if relatives informed and the patient isn’t
Feeling isolated and unable to communicate with each other
Unnecessary strain on family relationships
Families carrying the burden of deception
Impact on the healthcare team
Job stress and burnout
Poor job and role satisfaction
Disagreement and fractured relationships if not all agree with the information provided
Some patients prefer not to receive some or all of the facts as this is how they cope with their illness
Cultural differences ◦ preferences and behaviours around information relating
to particular diagnoses, such as cancer, prognosis and end of life decisions
◦ in some cultures it can be common for the family to be given the information while the patient is shielded from the full facts.
Individual patient’s preferences for information should guide the content, timing and delivery of information
research reveals that providing honest information does not remove hope
honest information can support patients in their efforts to maintain hope ◦ reduces fear of the unknown
◦ enables patients to match their hopes with the reality of their experience
Is this a contradiction?
“When we worry about destroying hope we are generally referring to a very specific hope of getting better or living longer.
But hope is a complex, multi-dimensional and above all flexible construct...
One can shift from hoping for a cure...to hoping to go home from the hospital.
Such a shift in the things one hopes for requires a reframing of goals to meet the realities at hand...(a reality) that none of us would wish for”
Hopes described by patients with a life-limiting illness include: ◦ living longer than expected ◦ good symptom management ◦ getting the most out of the time that is left ◦ making it to certain events or achieving certain goals ◦ mending damaged relationships ◦ spending special time with family and friends
This doesn’t mean people want to be in that situation (or that they won’t be sad/angry/upset) ◦ It is a way of coping that can be used over time
Bad news includes many different types of information
Information is defined as “bad news” by individuals and cannot always be determined in advance
BBN is a process with multiple episodes of information provision ◦ as people experience the implications of their situation
and raise questions and concerns
It also includes the activities before, during and after the news is given ◦ HCPs carry out a wide range of diverse roles in relation
to BBN
The way that bad, sad and significant information is given is important
The consequences are long-lasting How it is done can influence ◦ experiences and satisfaction with treatment ◦ relationships with the healthcare team. ◦ adherence and compliance with treatment ◦ coping with the consequences of illness
Providing information in a way that helps the patient understand and cope with what they are told requires skills and knowledge
Guidelines and good practice advice have been developed to support staff
These will be explored in the next section of the study day