See the published version of this preprint at Health and Quality of Life Outcomes.
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Leonardo Potenza
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ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2738-6105
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Background: Breaking bad news (BBN) may be associated with increasing risk of burnout in practising physicians. However, there is little research on the association between the way bad news is broken and burnout. We investigated the association between physicians' self-efficacy regarding communication to patients and risk of burnout.
Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study by proposing an ad-hoc survey exploring attitudes and practice regarding BBN and the Maslach Burnout Inventory - Human Service Survey to 379 physicians from two University Hospitals in Italy. Associations were assessed by multivariable logistic regression models.
Results: Two-hundred twenty-six (60%) physicians returned the questionnaires. 76% of physicians acquired communication skills by observing mentors or colleagues, 64% considered BBN as discussing a poor prognosis, 56% reported discussing prognosis as the most difficult task, 38% and 37% did not plan a BBN encounter and considered it stressful. The overall burnout rate was 59%. Considering BBN a stressful task was independently associated with high risk of burnout (OR 3.01; p=0.013). Planning the encounter (OR=0.43, p=0.037), mastering communication skills (OR=0.19, p=0.034) and the self-evaluation as good or very good at BBN (OR 0.32; 0.15 to 0.71; p=0.0) were associated with low risk of burnout.
Conclusions: Our findings suggest that some physicians' BBN attitudes and knowledge of conceptual frameworks may influence the risk of burnout and support the notion that increasing knowledge about communication skills may protect clinicians from burnout. Further research is needed in this area.
Keywords
Breaking serious news, attitudes, burnout, communication skills.
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CURRENT STATUS: Published
View the published article at Health and Quality of Life Outcomes.
Version 2
Posted 16 Jul, 2020
No community comments so far
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 16 Jul, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 16 Jul, 2020
Editorial decision: Accept
On 16 Jul, 2020
Editor assigned
On 13 Jul, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 13 Jul, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 13 Jul, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 13 Jul, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 12 Jul, 2020
Editor invited
On 12 Jul, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major Revision
On 27 May, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 21 May, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 11 May, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 02 May, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 25 Apr, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 15 Feb, 2020
Editor assigned
On 11 Feb, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 10 Feb, 2020
Editor invited
On 10 Feb, 2020
First submitted
On 08 Feb, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Health Economics & Outcomes Research
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A new preprint design is coming!
We have improved readability, clarity, accessibility, and opportunities for engagement.
See the published version of this preprint at Health and Quality of Life Outcomes.
This is a preprint, a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research
Leonardo Potenza
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2738-6105
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Published
View the published article at Health and Quality of Life Outcomes.
Version 2
Posted 16 Jul, 2020
No community comments so far
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 16 Jul, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 16 Jul, 2020
Editorial decision: Accept
On 16 Jul, 2020
Editor assigned
On 13 Jul, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 13 Jul, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 13 Jul, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 13 Jul, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 12 Jul, 2020
Editor invited
On 12 Jul, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major Revision
On 27 May, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 21 May, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 11 May, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 02 May, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 25 Apr, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 15 Feb, 2020
Editor assigned
On 11 Feb, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 10 Feb, 2020
Editor invited
On 10 Feb, 2020
First submitted
On 08 Feb, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Health Economics & Outcomes Research
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published article at Health and Quality of Life Outcomes.
Background: Breaking bad news (BBN) may be associated with increasing risk of burnout in practising physicians. However, there is little research on the association between the way bad news is broken and burnout. We investigated the association between physicians' self-efficacy regarding communication to patients and risk of burnout.
Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study by proposing an ad-hoc survey exploring attitudes and practice regarding BBN and the Maslach Burnout Inventory - Human Service Survey to 379 physicians from two University Hospitals in Italy. Associations were assessed by multivariable logistic regression models.
Results: Two-hundred twenty-six (60%) physicians returned the questionnaires. 76% of physicians acquired communication skills by observing mentors or colleagues, 64% considered BBN as discussing a poor prognosis, 56% reported discussing prognosis as the most difficult task, 38% and 37% did not plan a BBN encounter and considered it stressful. The overall burnout rate was 59%. Considering BBN a stressful task was independently associated with high risk of burnout (OR 3.01; p=0.013). Planning the encounter (OR=0.43, p=0.037), mastering communication skills (OR=0.19, p=0.034) and the self-evaluation as good or very good at BBN (OR 0.32; 0.15 to 0.71; p=0.0) were associated with low risk of burnout.
Conclusions: Our findings suggest that some physicians' BBN attitudes and knowledge of conceptual frameworks may influence the risk of burnout and support the notion that increasing knowledge about communication skills may protect clinicians from burnout. Further research is needed in this area.
Figure 1
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