EMBRACE Module Improves the Skills of Undergraduate Medical Students in Effectively Breaking the Bad News: A Case-Control Study.

Effective communication skills are pivotal in health care, particularly when conveying distressing information to patients and their families. However, medical education still lacks the adoption of a universal model that can be incorporated into the curricula to train and assess students in effectively communicating with patients. This study aims to assess the impact of training undergraduate medical students to deliver bad news effectively using the "EMBRACE" (Empowering Medical students' skills in BReaking bAd news with Compassion and Empathy) Module. This randomized case-control study involved medical students from the first, second and third professional years (Study group N=75, Control group N=75).For the study group, the "EMBRACE" modules were distributed. Then, a 1-hour training session on effectively delivering bad news was followed by an MCQ test and OSCE with response, interpretation, and communication skills stations. Participants' feedback was obtained on a 5-point Likert scale. There was a highly significant improvement in knowledge and skills among the study group compared to controls with a p-value less than 0.0001. 98.76% of participants perceived that the training equipped them with practical skills and 98.77% felt that the facilitator had demonstrated the steps of delivering bad news clearly and effectively. While only, 4.44% of participants were confident in effectively interacting with patients before the session, an overwhelming 81.11% gained confidence in their communication skills after the training. With demonstrated significant improvement in knowledge and skills, this study supports the adoption of "EMBRACE" modules in Undergraduate Medical Education, ultimately improving patient experiences, doctor-patient relationships, and health outcomes.