STUDENTS EXPERIENCE IN TRANSMITTING BAD NEWS ACCORDING TO THE SPIKES PROTOCOL

Introduction: The communication of unfavorable news to a patient implies a negative change in this life. The SPIKES protocol describes six steps to assist in the transmission of "bad news". Thus, the objective of this study is to report the experience of medical students of the sixth semester of UFG in conveying bad news based on SPIKES protocol. Methodology: It was attended in October 2014, at the Hospital of UFG, a male patient, 61 years old, that showed typical symptoms of Chagas disease. So, to transmit the bad news, the students followed the six steps of the SPIKES protocol learned in the fifth semester in the discipline of Medical Psychology. The first step (Setting up) was to prepare the environment to provide tranquility to the patient. Then, in the second step (Perception), the students tried to understand what was the patient’s knowledge about his health status. In the third (Invitation), they expected the patient to show interest in obtaining information about his condition. In the fourth (Knowledge), they transmitted his diagnosis. The fifth (Emotion), was to respond empathically to the bad news patient‘s reaction. Finally, in the sixth step (Strategy), they informed the patient what would be their conduct and what were his prospects. Results and Conclusions: The transmission of bad news to patients and families requires of the student certain skills, because it involves pain, hopelessness and fears. Thus, the use of SPIKES Protocol humanizes care and improves patient’s acceptance to the therapy suggested by the medical team.