Effects on Medical Students of Longitudinal Small-Group Learning about Breaking Bad News.

Introduction: Delivering bad news is a difficult task for physicians, and medical schools do not always prepare future physicians for this inevitable task.

Objective: To examine training in breaking bad news, to improve medical students' competence and confidence in dealing with this important aspect of clinical practice.

Methods: An exploratory study using a qualitative approach was done at a Brazilian public university's medical school, which receives 30 medical students per semester.