Patient Perception of Physician Compassion After a More Optimistic vs a Less Optimistic Message: A Randomized Clinical Trial

JAMA Network (open access)

At a Glance

• Better compassion scores were given to physicians delivering a more optimistic vs less optimistic message.
• Physicians delivering the more optimistic message were ranked as more trustworthy.
• Effort to structure less optimistic message content to support health care professionals in delivering bad news is needed.

Information regarding treatment options and prognosis is essential for patient decision making at the end of life. Patients report the need to access this information to make a decision about future planning.¹ When this information is delivered appropriately, it can have a positive impact on the patient and promote patient reassurance.^2- 7 The timing, amount, and quality of the information provided should be tailored to patients’ specific needs, given that information preferences vary among patients and along the disease trajectory.^{2,5,6,8- 11.....}