DATASET REPOSITORY - Breaking bad news in Neurology: Assessing Methodology, Perceptions and Preparedness among Residency Programs in Brazil

Purpose: Evaluate how breaking bad news (BBN) training was carried in neurology residency programs in Brazil, assessing the perception and preparedness of trainees and program directors (PDs). Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. Neurology trainees and PDs were recruited from the Brazilian Academy of Neurology (ABN) registry through convenience sampling. Participants answered a survey evaluating the BBN training taught and practiced in their institution and their perception and preparedness towards the topic. Results: We collected 174 responses from 45 neurology institutions from all Brazil's five socio-demographic regions. More than 90% of PDs believed their programs required substantial improvement, and over 70% of trainees were dissatisfied with their BBN training. Only 16% of PDs reported formal or simulation-based training, while 31% of the residents denied ever receiving specific training. Besides, 60% of the trainees reported never receiving feedback on their communication abilities, and 58.7% of PDs acknowledged that feedback was not standard practice. Conclusion: This study suggests that the BBN training is deficient in neurology residencies across Brazil and outlines challenges to meet this core competency. Given the relevance of such a skill to patients’ care, every effort should be made to provide structured training opportunities during residency.