Greek Physicians’ Skills and Factors Affecting Breaking Bad News to Cancer Patients

Background/Objectives: Breaking bad news is crucial for patient-centered care. This study aimed to assess physicians’ skills and investigate the possible factors affecting their ability to communicate bad news. Methods: This web-based cross-sectional survey of 633 Greek physicians included demographic and other breaking bad news related questions to evaluate their skills and practices in breaking bad news to patients with cancer. Results: Most physicians defined bad news (91.5%) and frequently used both verbal and non-verbal communication (82.6%). About three-quarters rated their ability to communicate bad news as good to very good (75%) and about half (50.4%) disclosed bad news in a private and comfortable setting. Emotional responses, like sadness (53.4%) and compassion (49.6%), were common, while fears mainly focused on diminishing patients’ hope (60.8%) or managing patients’ reactions (53.9%). Female physicians showed higher anxiety (15.9% vs. 4.3%, p < 0.0005) and sadness (53.4% vs. 43.5%, p = 0.018) and lower self-perceived competence (p = 0.001) compared to males. Specialists and physicians with formal training demonstrated greater competence (p < 0.0005) and were more likely to choose private and comfortable settings (p < 0.0005). Multivariable logistic regression identified increased age (OR = 1.03; p = 0.018), male sex (OR = 1.63; p = 0.015), formal training in breaking bad news (OR = 9.34; p < 0.0005), residence outside Athens (OR = 2.27; p = 0.002), working in oncology (OR = 1.90; p = 0.043), and employment in private hospitals (OR = 1.81; p = 0.014) as statistically significant predictors of good to very good ability to communicate bad news to cancer patients. Conclusions: These findings highlight the value of structured training, targeted practice and institutional support in fostering physicians’ communication skills and boosting patient-centered care.