Dataset Information

PENS approach for breaking bad news in the oncology outpatient setting: a real-world report.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Breaking bad news (BBN) is a vital part of oncology practice. We conducted this study to assess an abbreviated PENS protocol [Patient preference, Explanation, Next appointment, and Support] for BBN in oncology outpatient (OP) settings.

Methods

This observational study was conducted in a university teaching hospital, including cancer patients who were unaware of their condition and willing to discuss their disease status. The duration of BBN was the primary outcome. After the BBN session, patients filled a validated questionnaire; response scores of ≤ 13 were classified as content with BBN.

Results

Fifty patients (mean age 53.7 years, range 28-76) were included in the study. The average duration of BBN was 6.1 (range 2-11) min. Assessed by the response score sum, 43 (86%) patients were satisfied with BBN. Only three (6%) of the discontented patients felt that the BBN duration was too short. Most (94%) of patients reported that they understood the information imparted during the BBN session. After the session, 36 (72%) patients admitted to either feeling the same or reassured compared to before the session. The oncologists also were comfortable with PENS.

Conclusions

The PENS approach is a practical method for BBN, especially when the oncologists have higher OP workloads. More extensive trials are required to validate the protocol in other settings.

Trial registration

Clinical Trial Registry of India (CTRI/2021/07/034707).

SUBMITTER: Mailankody S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9747823 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

PENS approach for breaking bad news in the oncology outpatient setting: a real-world report.

Mailankody Sharada S Sherigar Prathika P Pai Ananth A Shenoy Ramnath R Udupa Karthik K Lewis Shirley S Rao Seema R SR

Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer 20221214 1

<h4>Purpose</h4>Breaking bad news (BBN) is a vital part of oncology practice. We conducted this study to assess an abbreviated PENS protocol [Patient preference, Explanation, Next appointment, and Support] for BBN in oncology outpatient (OP) settings.<h4>Methods</h4>This observational study was conducted in a university teaching hospital, including cancer patients who were unaware of their condition and willing to discuss their disease status. The duration of BBN was the primary outcome. After t ...[more]

PMID: 36513796

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Project description:BackgroundIt is a crucial task for physicians to deliver life threatening information to patients (breaking bad news; BBN). Many aspects influence these conversations on both sides, patients, and doctors. BBN affects the patient-physician relationship, patients' outcome, and physicians' health. Many physicians are still untrained for this multi-facetted task and feel unprepared and overburdened when facing situations of BBN. Therefore, any faculties should aim to integrate communication skills into their medical curricula as early as possible. The SPIKES protocol is an effective framework to deliver BBN. Aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and obstacles of a BBN seminar and its acceptance and learning curve among undergraduate medical students.Methods158 2nd year undergraduate medical students attended a compulsory BBN seminar. The task was to deliver a cancer diagnosis to the patient within a patient - physician role-play in a gyneco-oncological setting before and after a presentation of the SPIKES protocol by the lecturer. The students evaluated important communication skills during these role-plays respectively. Self-assessment questionnaires were obtained at the beginning and end of the seminar.ResultsMost students indicated that their confidence in BBN improved after the seminar (p < 0.001). They like the topic BBN to be part of lectures (76%) and electives (90%). Communication skills improved. Lecturer and seminar were positively evaluated (4.57/5).ConclusionThe seminar significantly increased confidence and self-awareness in delivering life-threatening news to patients among undergraduate medical students. Important learning aspects of BBN and communication skills could be delivered successfully to the participants within a short time at low costs. The integration of communication skills should be implemented longitudinally into medical curricula starting before clinical education to increase the awareness of the importance of communication skills, to decrease anxiety, stress, and workload for future doctors and- most importantly- to the benefit of our patients.

Dataset Information

PENS approach for breaking bad news in the oncology outpatient setting: a real-world report.

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Trial registration

Publications

PENS approach for breaking bad news in the oncology outpatient setting: a real-world report.

Similar Datasets

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