Communication with paediatric patients requires specific skills due to a wide age range of the patients and necessary involvement of parents in the care. The basic prerequisite for successful communication is the implementation of communication skills and knowledge, recognition of behavioural patterns of ill children and their parents and recognition of patient (and parents) needs in the communication process with health professionals. Basic elements of parent-child-doctor communication that could improve the outcome and satisfaction of all participants in the communication process are the quantity and quality of information given by the health professional, interpersonal sensitivity (recognition of child’s and parents’ emotions) and mutual trust (doctor encourages the parents and child to express their concern, expectations and suggestions)

Key words:
breaking bad news; child; communication; pediatrics; parents