The term "bad news" refers to any information transmitted to patients or their families that directly or indirectly involves a negative change in their lives. Since breaking bad news is a stressful task, many physicians either avoid it or perform it inadequately. This situation has numerous negative consequences for patients and their families. Although the topic has been the object of study in various medical schools around the world, it has still received little attention by faculty and students in Brazil. The SPIKES protocol provides a didactic six-step approach for breaking bad news. These steps were used in the classroom by third-semester medical students at the State University of Ceará, Brazil. The students then evaluated the method using open-ended questions. The method was generally considered valid, despite possible limitations like the need for individualization and adaptation to each specific situation.