Competence of Primary Healthcare Physicians in Breaking Bad News in Eastern Province Capital of Saudi Arabia

Background one of the most physicians important and difficult duties is breaking bad news (BBN). Objectives The present study aimed to assess knowledge, perceived importance and competence of primary health care (PHC) physicians in Eastern Province Capital in Saudi Arabia about BBN for patients. Material and methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in 24 governmental PHC centers of Dammam among practicing physicians using self-administered questionnaire. Results Out of 119 participants, 58 % were female physicians and 49 % were Saudis. Most of them had bachelor degree in medicine (84.9 %). In-service trained on BBN was 40.3 %. The average number of patients seen per day was 48 patients. The average number of BBN per month was 6. Among all physicians 23.5 % had poor knowledge and 9.2 % had good knowledge about BBN. The perceived competence was low in 15.1 % and high in 40.3 %, while the level of perceived importance was high in 64.7 % and low in 5.9 %. Female physicians showed significant better knowledge (p=.04). Those who received in-service training showed significant better knowledge (pless than.001), perceived importance (pless than.001) and competence (p=.006). There is positive significant correlation between perceived importance and knowledge, as well as perceived competence. There was negative correlation between number of patients seen per day and physicians knowledge, perceived importance and competence. Conclusion Most of physicians believed that BBN is important in PHC in spite of deficiency in knowledge. Physicians who received in-service training had better knowledge, perceived importance and competence. Accordingly, BBN should be systematically introduced in PHC.