Interpretation of bad news delivery in medical practice through PRISMA 2020 literature review

Abstract

Poor communication of bad news can have a significant negative impact on patients, triggering stress, anxiety and deterioration in their overall health status. The aim of this study was to interpret the delivery of bad news in medical practice through a literature review for the proposal of an approach to improve effective communication skills among health professionals. To achieve this end, a literature review was conducted following the guidelines of the PRISMA 2020 methodology, using sources such as PubMed, Lilacs and Scielo. From this search, 16 articles relevant to the topic of study were selected. The findings underline that the ability to adequately communicate bad news is not optional, but an essential competency within professional practice, thus highlighting the importance of this topic in the medical setting. It is concluded that it is crucial for health professionals to be adequately prepared to communicate bad news, which implies the development of protocols and specific recommendations on prognosis and treatment, and the fostering of a doctor-patient relationship based on trust and mutual respect