Breaking bad news is a common cause of anxiety for healthcare professionals. This book is a handy pocket-sized guide that will help you fulfil this difficult task as well as possible.

This book will introduce you to a new model and mnemonic: S Set the scene U Understand your patient’s perspective P Prepare your patient P Pass on the information O Observe silence R Respect and respond to emotion T Time for questions and clarification S Summary and close Written by an experienced lecturer in palliative care, with input provided by current healthcare students and with space for your own notes, this guidance is produced with you in mind – and you can carry it with you at all times. ContentsPreface; About the author: Introduction 1 What is bad news? 2 Why is it important to break bad news well? 2.

1 The importance of a therapeutic relationship 3 Why is it difficult to break bad news well? 3. 1 Factors between healthcare professionals and patients 3.

2 Environmental factors 3. 3 Professional factors 3.

4 Patient-related factors 4 How not to break bad news 4. 1 Impact on patients when done badly 4.

2 Inappropriate communication channel 4. 3 Poor positioning and/or body language 4.

4 Avoidance of questions 4. 5 Not understanding or clarifying the patient’s question 4.

6 Brushing over the concern 5 How to break bad news well – SUPPORTS model and steps 5. 1 S: Set the scene 5.

2 U: Understand the patient’s perspective 5. 3 P: Prepare (fire a warning shot) 5.

4 P: Pass on the information 5. 5 O: Observe silence 5.

6 R: Respect and respond to emotion 5. 7 T: Time for questions 5.

8 S: Summary and close 5. 9 Example of using the mnemonic in practice 5.

10 Avoid assumptions 5. 11 Therapeutic relationship and trust 6 Useful additional skills and strategies in communication 7 Conclusion References; Further reading.