Biomaterial Database

Communication and neurology--bad news and how to break them. 2011

A Storstein

Department of Neurology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway. anette.storstein@helse-bergen.no

How to deliver bad news to patients is a crucial part of medical practice. Many neurological diseases are incurable, progressive and result in physical or cognitive disabilities, which pose special challenges in the process of communication. Information about diagnosis, therapy and prognosis should be given in an appropriate setting and tailored to the patient's needs and cognitive level of functioning. Support and advice to the family and a team-oriented approach in the follow-up of neurological patients are of high importance. Patient autonomy, truth disclosure expectations and the access to other sources of information is important aspects that influence communication. There is a need for a special and continuous focus on communication in the education of neurologists with regard to the specific needs of this field. Attention should be given to the consequences of neurological disease as well as to therapy and prognosis.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009462	Neurology	A medical specialty concerned with the study of the structures, functions, and diseases of the nervous system.
D010817	Physician-Patient Relations	The interactions between physician and patient.	Doctor-Patient Relations,Doctor Patient Relations,Physician Patient Relations,Physician Patient Relationship,Doctor Patient Relation,Doctor-Patient Relation,Physician Patient Relation,Physician Patient Relationships,Physician-Patient Relation,Relation, Doctor Patient,Relation, Doctor-Patient,Relation, Physician Patient,Relation, Physician-Patient,Relations, Doctor Patient,Relations, Doctor-Patient,Relations, Physician Patient,Relations, Physician-Patient,Relationship, Physician Patient,Relationships, Physician Patient
D003142	Communication	The exchange or transmission of ideas, attitudes, or beliefs between individuals or groups.	Miscommunication,Misinformation,Social Communication,Communication Programs,Communications Personnel,Personal Communication,Communication Program,Communication, Personal,Communication, Social,Communications, Social,Miscommunications,Misinformations,Personnel, Communications,Program, Communication,Programs, Communication,Social Communications
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D014342	Truth Disclosure	Truthful revelation of information, specifically when the information disclosed is likely to be psychologically painful ("bad news") to the recipient (e.g., revelation to a patient or a patient's family of the patient's DIAGNOSIS or PROGNOSIS) or embarrassing to the teller (e.g., revelation of medical errors).	Disclosure, Truth,Disclosure, Error,Disclosures, Error,Disclosures, Truth,Error Disclosure,Error Disclosures,Truth Disclosures