title: Breaking bad news of cancer diagnosis - Perception of the cancer patients in a rural community in Malaysia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Breaking of bad news is an important component in the management of cancer patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to assess the perceptions of breaking bad news of cancer diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  It was a cross-sectional study using Breaking Bad News Assessment Schedule (BAS) questionnaire on cancer patients in Serian district.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using snowballing sampling method, a total of 134 patients were interviewed face-to-face after the consent was obtained from each of the respondents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data was entered and analyzed using SPSS version 19.0.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Majority were comfortable with the current method of breaking bad news. The main aspects found to be the areas of concern were the importance of the usage of body language, management of time and identifying patients' key area of concerns. There were significant difference between sex and "information giving" (P = 0.028) and "general consideration" (P = 0.016) and also between "the age and setting the scene" (P = 0.042). Significant difference was also found between the types of cancer and "the setting of scene" (P = 0.018), "breaking bad news technique" (P = 0.010), "eliciting concerns" (P = 0.003) and "information giving" (P = 0.004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Good and effective communication skill of breaking bad news is vital in the management of cancer patients. As the incidence of new cases of cancer increase every year, breaking of bad news has become a pertinent to the medical professionals' role. Specific aspects of communication skills based on local characteristics should be more emphasized in the formulation of training for doctors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine and Public Health, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Sarawak, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Mathew Gabriel
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Bain
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine and Public Health, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Sarawak, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Cheah Whye
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lian
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Sarawak, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Chang Ching
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Thon
keywords: Breaking bad news; cancer; patients’ perception