Mohammad Farhadi; Mohammadjavad Entezari
Volume 13, Issue 3 , July 2025, , Pages 182-184
Abstract
I commend the authors for their insightful manuscript "Comparing the Performance of Emergency Department Personnel and Patients’ Preferences in Breaking Bad News."(1) This study examines a sensitive yet essential aspect of emergency care—effectively delivering bad news in high-stress environments. ...
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I commend the authors for their insightful manuscript "Comparing the Performance of Emergency Department Personnel and Patients’ Preferences in Breaking Bad News."(1) This study examines a sensitive yet essential aspect of emergency care—effectively delivering bad news in high-stress environments. The findings highlight a notable discrepancy between emergency department (ED) personnel's communication practices and patients' expectations, underscoring the need for structured training and improved communication protocols in emergency medicine. The article provides valuable insights into the gap between ED personnel performance and patient preferences in BBN, supported by a solid methodological foundation. However, its impact is curtailed by limited generalizability, subjective performance measures, and a lack of nuanced interpretation or practical solutions. Future research should incorporate observer validation, and categorize bad news scenarios by severity. Time constraints in EDs should be quantified to explain performance gaps. A structured BBN protocol integrating patient preferences and cultural factors would enhance communication strategies. Addressing these weaknesses could elevate the study from a descriptive snapshot to a transformative contribution to emergency medicine communication practices.
Mohammad Gholami; sina valiee; naser kamyari; salam vatandost
Volume 11, Issue 3 , July 2023, , Pages 146-153
Abstract
Objective: Breaking bad news (BBN) is a critical aspect of healthcare delivery that can have significantimplications for patients’ outcomes. Inadequate and inappropriate delivery of bad news can result in detrimentalpsychological and emotional effects. This study aimed to compare the performance ...
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Objective: Breaking bad news (BBN) is a critical aspect of healthcare delivery that can have significantimplications for patients’ outcomes. Inadequate and inappropriate delivery of bad news can result in detrimentalpsychological and emotional effects. This study aimed to compare the performance of emergency department(ED) personnel and patients’ preferences in BBN.Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted in 2022, and 135 patients who were admitted to theED were included using quota sampling. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, a researchermadequestionnaire, and a standard questionnaire on attitudes toward the methods of BBN in the ED. The datawere analyzed using SPSS software (version 16), and a p-value<0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: The results showed that the majority of patients (69.6%) received bad news from nurses. Based on theconditions mentioned in the standard questionnaire, the overall performance of personnel was 6.08±4.22 out of19, while the overall attitude score (59.66±7.66 out of 76) revealed patients’ high tendency to receive bad news.There was a statistically significant difference between the total score of personnel performances and the totalscore of patients’ attitudes (p=0.001).Conclusion: The performance of ED personnel concerning patients’ attitudes toward the method of BBN inthe emergency department was not optimal. Therefore, it is recommended to implement appropriate trainingprograms for medical professionals, especially physicians, and nurses, to enhance their communication skillsand reduce the detrimental effects of inappropriate delivery of bad news in medical settings.
Tanja Pekez-Pavlisko; Maja Racic; Drinka Jurišić
Volume 6, Issue 2 , April 2018, , Pages 162-168
Abstract
Objective: To explore family physicians’ attitudes, previous experience and self-assessed preparedness to respond or to assist in mass casualty incidents in Croatia.Methods: The cross-sectional survey was carried out during January 2017. Study participants were recruited through a Facebook group ...
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Objective: To explore family physicians’ attitudes, previous experience and self-assessed preparedness to respond or to assist in mass casualty incidents in Croatia.Methods: The cross-sectional survey was carried out during January 2017. Study participants were recruited through a Facebook group that brings together family physicians from Croatia. They were asked to complete the questionnaire, which was distributed via google.docs. Knowledge and attitudes toward disaster preparedness were evaluated by 18 questions. Analysis of variance, Student t test and Kruskal-Wallis test t were used for statistical analysis.Results: Risk awareness of disasters was high among respondents (M = 4.89, SD=0.450). Only 16.4 of respondents have participated in the management of disaster at the scene. The majority (73.8%) of physicians have not been participating in any educational activity dealing with disaster over the past two years. Family physicians believed they are not well prepared to participate in national (M = 3.02, SD=0.856) and local community emergency response system for disaster (M = 3.16, SD=1.119). Male physicians scored higher preparedness to participate in national emergency response system for disaster (p=0.012), to carry out accepted triage principles used in the disaster situation (p=0.003) and recognize differences in health assessments indicating potential exposure to specific agents (p=0,001) compared to their female colleagues.Conclusion: Croatian primary healthcare system attracts many young physicians, who can be an important part of disaster and emergency management. However, the lack of experience despite a high motivation indicates a need for inclusion of disaster medicine training during undergraduate studies and annual educational activities.
