Breaking the Bad News to Patients: Dental Students’ Perception and Practice – A Cross Sectional Survey

Abstract Background: Bad news refers to a circumstance where an individual’s mental or physical health is at risk, and they experience a sense of hopelessness. Breaking bad news to a patient with a life-threatening condition or serious health issue can be distressing, especially when the clinician lacks experience. Most healthcare professionals develop this skill through observation and experience without any formal training. Objectives: To evaluate the perception and practice of breaking bad news among dental interns and postgraduate students. Methods: This cross-sectional survey was carried out involving an entire batch of 76 dental interns and 59 postgraduate students in the dental department between September and November 2023. A modified, predesigned, pretested, semi-structured questionnaire with a Likert’s rating scale was used for this survey through Google Forms. Results: Only 36.80% of dental interns and 45.80% of postgraduate students agreed clinicians are the primary deliverers of bad news to patients. Additionally, 63.20% of dental interns and 55.90% of postgraduate students felt that specific teaching/training was necessary for breaking bad news. Conclusion: Continuing educational programs or integrating the skill of breaking bad news into the curriculum is a way to empower all healthcare professionals.