Breaking bad news protocol for cancer disclosure: an Iranian version

In Iran, as in many Asian and Middle Eastern countries, a significant proportion of cancer patients are never informed of their illness. One solution that has been proposed to tackle this challenge is to develop a localized protocol on cancer diagnosis disclosure based on the culture and values of community members, and train healthcare team members to deliver the bad news using this protocol. This article introduces a localized protocol for disclosure of bad news to cancer patients in Iran. This protocol consists of six steps, including assessment, planning, preparation, disclosure, support and conclusion. In the drafting of this protocol an attempt was made to meticulously consider the cultural features of the Iranian society. Although breaking bad news will never be easy, having an appropriate plan of action based on individual’s attitudes, considerably helps health-care professionals, and provides more satisfaction in patients.