Attitude of doctors regarding Breaking Bad News to patients in Iraq

Objectives: To assess the attitude of doctors with regard delivering bad news to patients and breaking bad news protocols. Methods: This is a cross sectional (descriptive study) done in Iraq from first of November 2020 to end of May 2021 involved 500 doctors ( periodic resident, senior resident, general practitioner and specialist doctors in different specialties ) working in different hospitals, primary health care centers and private clinics in Iraq, they are selected randomly. A self – administered questionnaire design in addition to online data collection, by using modified questionnaire and link sent to different online ways (whats app, viber, facebook, telegram ). Results: Out of 500 respondents doctors there were 329 (65.8%) females, 171 (34.2%) males. Regarding to attitude of doctors in breaking bad news 268 (53.6%) of doctors were need a structured protocol in breaking bad news and 280 (56%) doctors need training for breaking bad news. The SPIKES protocol is the most preferred protocol by doctors about (75.6%). Conclusion: High percentage of  participants doctors(63%) did not know any protocol in breaking bad news and about (43%) of them rated themselves had good ability in delivering bad news. The SPIKES protocol is the preferred protocol by doctors.