Introduction

Communication presents itself as a skill that must be earned in medical graduation, being configured as a field of knowledge to be contemplated with regard to medical training. The way the communication is made, including its content, are important elements of the bond established between patient, health team, family and health institution. Considering the National Curricular Guidelines, learning is stimulated through active methodologies, with communication as part of the teaching-learning process, with the challenge of contemplating the communication of bad news in an effective way during formation.

Objective

To analyze the perceptions of medical students studying an organized curriculum with active methodologies about the communication of bad news in medical formation.

Method

This was a qualitative study, carried out at the School of Medicine of Marília. Thirty-nine students from the 1 st to the 6 th years of the medical course participated in the study. Data collection was performed through a semi-structured interview and the data were analyzed using the Content Analysis technique, in the thematic modality.

Results and discussion

Based on the analysis, four thematic categories were identified: Difficulty in defining bad news: product or process?; Is it possible to learn how to give or receive bad news from experience?; Difficulties in implementing an integrated curriculum: insufficient theoretical-practical articulation in bad news communication; and Valuing the communication of bad news: it takes theoretical, technical and emotional preparation. The results allow an important well-defined look at the perception of students about the communication of bad news within the curricular proposal.

Final considerations

It is pointed out that the study participants perceive the need for greater theoretical-practical articulation, training of teachers and care regarding the personal and professional formation of students regarding what comprises the communication of bad news. We expect the study to contribute to the broadening the perspectives on the subject, regarding the development of communication skills in health professionals, since the undergraduate years.

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