Abstract
The aim of this master dissertation was to gain a deeper understanding of the breaking of bad news through narration of the lived experiences of doctors. In-depth interviews using open questions were conducted with ten professionally active medical doctors who had 1) experience of breaking bad news and 2) applied to participate in a communications course. The data was analyzed using thematic analysis and the results were captured in nine themes. The main findings of the study were that the participants perceived that they had to apply self-awareness, honesty and responsiveness in order to execute the breaking of bad news in an appropriate manner. Resources that they found necessary in order to be able to cope were; support from their surroundings and balance between work and leisure. Anger and grief were the aspects of breaking bad news that were described as the hardest to handle. The participants experienced breaking bad news to be both challenging and valuable. The results were discussed in relation to “Sense of Coherence” and ”Empathy as a professional approach”. Finally, the breaking of bad news was interpreted as being a task which requires medical doctors to adopt an approach that combines both medicine and humanities, in order to perform it well.
Translated title of the contribution | Breaking Bad News - science and the art of healing |
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Original language | Swedish |
Qualification | Master |
Awarding Institution |
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Supervisors/Advisors |
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Award date | 2016 Jan 25 |
Publication status | Published - 2016 Jan 15 |
Subject classification (UKÄ)
- Psychology