Teaching dental students how to deliver bad news: S-P-I-K-E-S model

J Dent Educ. 2012 Mar;76(3):360-5.

Abstract

Delivering bad news has traditionally been associated with life-threatening illness, the imminence of death, or communicating about the death of a loved one to a family member. The delivery of bad news in dentistry is rarely about life-threatening circumstances. However, the impact of the bad news such as the loss of an anterior tooth can be devastating for the patient. This article outlines the S-P-I-K-E-S protocol and discusses the teaching aims and methodology in applying the model in an undergraduate dental program in Ireland.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Attitude to Health
  • Behavioral Sciences / education
  • Communication*
  • Competency-Based Education
  • Comprehension
  • Dentist-Patient Relations*
  • Dentistry, Operative / education
  • Education, Dental*
  • Emotions
  • Empathy
  • Environment
  • Feedback
  • Humans
  • Ireland
  • Patient Care Planning
  • Patient Education as Topic
  • Role Playing
  • Students, Dental*
  • Teaching / methods*
  • Truth Disclosure*