The perception and attitude of nurses towards breaking bad news to parents of hospitalized children and infants: A cross-sectional study

Breaking bad news is a stressful task for healthcare staff. Breaking bad news has various consequences for patients and their families. Anxiety, stress, and emotional reactions are often associated with breaking bad news, so knowing the correct way to break bad news plays a vital role in the interaction between the nurse and the patient. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the perceptions and attitudes of nurses towards breaking bad news to parents of hospitalized children in hospitals in Tabriz, Iran. This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2019 on nurses working in pediatric and neonatal wards of hospitals in Tabriz, Iran. The samples were selected using a non-random sampling method. Data collection tools included a self-reporting questionnaire on perception of bad news and attitude towards bad news. The results showed that with increasing perception of bad news, the attitude towards bad news also increases (P=0.02, r=0.12). Also, most participants did not receive training on how to break bad news during their university study or in-service training. According to the results of this study, it is necessary to increase understanding and acceptance and adapt to sudden changes in situations with proper training. It is also essential for managers and those involved in the healthcare system to have special programs for training and empowering healthcare personnel.