Korean Medical Education Review (의학교육논단)

Yonsei university college of medicine (연세대학교 의과대학)
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The Public's Response to Communication between a Terminal Cancer Patient and Physicians: A Qualitative Study of Three Sets of Online News Comments

한 말기 암환자와 의사와의 의사소통에 대한 대중의 반응: 3개의 온라인 기사 댓글에 대한 질적 연구

  • Park, Song Yi (Department of Emergency Medicine, Dong-A University College of Medicine) ;
  • Park, Kyung Hye (Department of Medical Education, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine)
  • 박송이 (동아대학교 의과대학 응급의학교실) ;
  • 박경혜 (연세대학교 원주의과대학 의학교육학과)
  • Received : 2022.06.10
  • Accepted : 2022.07.25
  • Published : 2022.10.31
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Abstract

This study explored the public's response to an incident involving publicity about how physicians broke bad news to a terminal cancer patient by analyzing 1,960 comments from three online news websites that reported on this event using Braun and Clarke's theme analysis methods. Three themes and 10 subthemes emerged from the public's responses to the way the physicians broke the bad news. Theme 1 (a physician is a person who tells the facts) contained the following subthemes: physicians are responsible for delivering facts, but it is a matter of consideration for patients to deliver bad news to them, empathy and consolation should be expected from people other than physicians, and physicians who say what patients want to hear are cheaters. Theme 2 (there is a problem with physicians) included the following subthemes: the physicians' empathy or personality and problems with their communication methods. Theme 3 (there are obstacles to communication with dying patients) had the following subthemes: physicians become emotionally dull and find it very stressful to break bad news, giving hope to dying patients can lead to medical disputes, and empathy and consolation are also costly. When breaking bad news, the physicians delivered factual information, but they did so inappropriately, and emotional support for the patient was insufficient. In medical communication education, it is necessary to emphasize training in emotional support. In the medical field, an environment should be created where physicians can communicate as they have learned.

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Acknowledgement

본 연구는 동아대학교 연구재단의 연구비 수혜를 받았다(no., 20220402).

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