Guidelines for effective telephone communication of bad news in the health field in times of covid-19
Abstract
Introduction: The crisis generated by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has had a great impact in health, economic and social sectors. In the health field, the exceptional circumstances in which many deaths have occurred have forced professionals to communicate bad news remotely by telephone. Objective: This article aims to synthesize in an organized way the main guidelines that contribute to effective communication, allowing professionals to reduce their stress levels and achieve greater efficiency when communicating a death by telephone in an emergency situation such as the current pandemic. Methodology: A review was carried out based on the scientific evidence collected in the existing bibliography on the subject. The databases consulted were PubMed, Scopus and the search engine Google Scholar. Results: To communicate bad news, the professional must have both good communication skills and adequate management of basic technical guidelines for action. Conclusion: The use of a series of guidelines with a certain degree of structure can increase the effectiveness of bad news communications through the telephone in emergency situations, maximizing the benefits for both the receiver and the sender.
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