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Hamui Sutton A, Sánchez-Guzmán MA. Resident training in psychopathology and uncertainty in a clinical situation. Health (London) 2024; 28:290-312. [PMID: 36245256 DOI: 10.1177/13634593221127821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The central theme of this article is the way in which psychiatry physicians-in-training deal with uncertainty in the discussion of clinical cases in Mexico. Methodologically, it is approached from the field of clinical ethnography and the narrative interpretation of plots in performative actions where there are sequences of communicative exchanges. In this way, it focuses on a detailed description of situations where clinical cases are reviewed to decipher, explain, and understand intersubjective meanings in the face of the emergence of uncertainty, its management, and the implications on decisions and actions. The study finds that limitations within the field of psychiatry lie in the nosographic construction of disease and its translation into the diagnostic hypotheses made by clinicians, where there are wide margins of ambiguity. The strategies implemented in the face of uncertainty are use of drugs, the collegiate review of the case, and utilization of intuition as a spontaneous, preconscious daily practice. The specific case described here provides a microscopic observation of the complex scenarios in which uncertainty occurs in educational and teaching processes, clearly revealing how patient care is articulated. The narratives and their interpretation are materials for training/curriculum and psychiatric clinical practice.
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Kerr AM, Rubinsky V, Duty K. Pediatricians' Communication about Medical Uncertainty: Goal-Oriented Communication and Uncertainty Management. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2023; 38:1454-1466. [PMID: 34894911 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2021.2012896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Despite the prevalence of uncertainty in medicine, many physicians experience anxiety as a result of medical uncertainty and are reluctant to discuss uncertainty with others. When pediatricians do disclose uncertainty to parents, they are managing both the parents' and their own feelings of uncertainty. The current study applies uncertainty management theory and multiple goals theory to explore pediatricians' communication about uncertainty. We collected data using in-depth semi-structured interviews with 18 pediatricians. The results suggest that pediatricians prioritize task and relational goals with parents and task and identity goals with fellow physicians. Though, their appraisal of uncertainty influences their goal-oriented communication. The results highlight the relationship between uncertainty management theory and a multiple goals framework. These frameworks provide a valuable approach for gaining a more thorough understanding of pediatrician communication in the context of uncertainty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna M Kerr
- Department of Primary Care, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University
| | | | - Kayla Duty
- School of Communication Studies, Ohio University
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Reale C, Salwei ME, Militello LG, Weinger MB, Burden A, Sushereba C, Torsher LC, Andreae MH, Gaba DM, McIvor WR, Banerjee A, Slagle J, Anders S. Decision-Making During High-Risk Events: A Systematic Literature Review. JOURNAL OF COGNITIVE ENGINEERING AND DECISION MAKING 2023; 17:188-212. [PMID: 37823061 PMCID: PMC10564111 DOI: 10.1177/15553434221147415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Effective decision-making in crisis events is challenging due to time pressure, uncertainty, and dynamic decisional environments. We conducted a systematic literature review in PubMed and PsycINFO, identifying 32 empiric research papers that examine how trained professionals make naturalistic decisions under pressure. We used structured qualitative analysis methods to extract key themes. The studies explored different aspects of decision-making across multiple domains. The majority (19) focused on healthcare; military, fire and rescue, oil installation, and aviation domains were also represented. We found appreciable variability in research focus, methodology, and decision-making descriptions. We identified five main themes: (1) decision-making strategy, (2) time pressure, (3) stress, (4) uncertainty, and (5) errors. Recognition-primed decision-making (RPD) strategies were reported in all studies that analyzed this aspect. Analytical strategies were also prominent, appearing more frequently in contexts with less time pressure and explicit training to generate multiple explanations. Practitioner experience, time pressure, stress, and uncertainty were major influencing factors. Professionals must adapt to the time available, types of uncertainty, and individual skills when making decisions in high-risk situations. Improved understanding of these decisional factors can inform evidence-based enhancements to training, technology, and process design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carrie Reale
- Center for Research and Innovation in Systems Safety, Department of Anesthesiology and the Center for Health Services Research, Institute for Medicine and Public Health, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Megan E Salwei
- Center for Research and Innovation in Systems Safety, Department of Anesthesiology and the Center for Health Services Research, Institute for Medicine and Public Health, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA, Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | | | - Matthew B Weinger
- Center for Research and Innovation in Systems Safety, Department of Anesthesiology and the Center for Health Services Research, Institute for Medicine and Public Health, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA, Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Amanda Burden
- Department of Anesthesiology, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ, USA
| | | | - Laurence C Torsher
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Michael H Andreae
- Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - David M Gaba
- Patient Simulation Center, VA Palo Alto Healthcare System, Palo Alto, CA, USA, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative & Pain Medicine, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - William R McIvor
- Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Arna Banerjee
- Center for Research and Innovation in Systems Safety, Department of Anesthesiology and the Center for Health Services Research, Institute for Medicine and Public Health, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Jason Slagle
- Center for Research and Innovation in Systems Safety, Department of Anesthesiology and the Center for Health Services Research, Institute for Medicine and Public Health, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Shilo Anders
- Center for Research and Innovation in Systems Safety, Department of Anesthesiology and the Center for Health Services Research, Institute for Medicine and Public Health, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA, Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
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Kerr AM, Thompson CM, Stewart CA, Rakowsky A. "I Want Them to Still Trust Me with Their Child's Care": A Longitudinal Study of Pediatric Residents' Reactions to and Communication with Parents about Medical Uncertainty across Residency. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2023; 38:1054-1064. [PMID: 34702092 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2021.1991637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Physicians in residency training experience high levels of medical uncertainty, yet they are often hesitant to discuss uncertainty with parents. Guided by the theory of motivated information management and a multiple goals perspective, this mixed-methods longitudinal study examines associations among residents' tolerance of and reactions to uncertainty, efficacy communicating about uncertainty, and perceptions of parents' trust in them as physicians. To contextualize these associations, we also examined residents' task, identity, and relational goals when communicating about uncertainty with parents. We surveyed 47 pediatric residents at the beginning of each year of their residency program. As they progressed through their training, residents' uncertainty-related anxiety and reluctance to communicate uncertainty to parents decreased, and their efficacy communicating uncertainty with parents increased. Residents' concerns about bad outcomes remained unchanged. Residents pursued multiple, often conflicting, conversational goals when communicating uncertainty with parents. Results reveal important considerations for addressing how residents can manage their uncertainty in productive ways.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Charee M Thompson
- Department of Communication, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
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Mutter M, Kyle JR, Yecies E, Hamm M, DiNardo D. Use of Chart-Stimulated Recall to Explore Uncertainty in Medical Decision-Making Among Senior Internal Medicine Residents. J Gen Intern Med 2022; 37:3114-3120. [PMID: 35141852 PMCID: PMC9485402 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-022-07396-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Uncertainty is common and impacts both patients and clinicians. The approach to uncertainty in medical trainees may be distinct from that of practicing clinicians and has important implications for medical education. OBJECTIVE Describe trainee approach to uncertainty with the use of chart-stimulated recall (CSR)-based interviews, as well as the utility of such interviews in promoting reflection about decision-making among senior internal medicine (IM) residents. DESIGN Qualitative analysis of CSR-based interviews with IM residents. PARTICIPANTS Senior IM residents rotating on inpatient night float at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center from February to September 2019. INTERVENTION Each participant completed one, 20-min CSR session based on a self-selected case in which there was uncertainty in decision-making. Interviews explored the sources of, approaches to, and feelings about uncertainty. APPROACH Two independent coders developed a codebook and independently coded all transcripts. Transcripts were then analyzed using thematic analysis. KEY RESULTS The perceived acuity of the patient presentation was the main driver of the approach to and stress related to uncertainty. Perceived level of responsibility in resolving uncertainty during the overnight shift also varied among individual participants. Attending expression of uncertainty provided comfort to residents and alleviated stress related to uncertainty. Residents felt comfortable discussing their uncertainty and felt that the opportunity to think aloud during the exercise was valuable. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrated a novel approach to the exploration of uncertainty in medical decision-making, with the use of CSR. Variations in resident perceived level of responsibility in resolving uncertainty during the overnight shift suggest a need for curriculum development in approach to uncertainty during night shifts. Though residents often experienced stress related to uncertainty, attending expression of uncertainty was an important mitigator of that stress, emphasizing the important role that the trainee-attending interaction plays in the diagnostic process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Mutter
- Division of Hospital Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA.
| | - Jillian R Kyle
- Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - Megan Hamm
- Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Deborah DiNardo
- Division of General Internal Medicine, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Eachempati P, Büchter RB, Ks KK, Hanks S, Martin J, Nasser M. Developing an integrated multilevel model of uncertainty in health care: a qualitative systematic review and thematic synthesis. BMJ Glob Health 2022; 7:bmjgh-2021-008113. [PMID: 35501069 PMCID: PMC9062775 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2021-008113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Uncertainty is an inevitable part of healthcare and a source of confusion and challenge to decision-making. Several taxonomies of uncertainty have been developed, but mainly focus on decisions in clinical settings. Our goal was to develop a holistic model of uncertainty that can be applied to both clinical as well as public and global health scenarios. Methods We searched Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus and Google scholar in March 2021 for literature reviews, qualitative studies and case studies related to classifications or models of uncertainty in healthcare. Empirical articles were assessed for study limitations using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklist. We synthesised the literature using a thematic analysis and developed a dynamic multilevel model of uncertainty. We sought patient input to assess relatability of the model and applied it to two case examples. Results We screened 4125 studies and included 15 empirical studies, 13 literature reviews and 5 case studies. We identified 77 codes and organised these into 26 descriptive and 11 analytical themes of uncertainty. The themes identified are global, public health, healthcare system, clinical, ethical, relational, personal, knowledge exchange, epistemic, aleatoric and parameter uncertainty. The themes were included in a model, which captures the macro, meso and microlevels and the inter-relatedness of uncertainty. We successfully piloted the model on one public health example and an environmental topic. The main limitations are that the research input into our model predominantly came from North America and Europe, and that we have not yet tested the model in a real-life setting. Conclusion We developed a model that can comprehensively capture uncertainty in public and global health scenarios. It builds on models that focus solely on clinical settings by including social and political contexts and emphasising the dynamic interplay between different areas of uncertainty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prashanti Eachempati
- Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Manipal University College Malaysia, Bukit Baru, Malaysia
| | - Roland Brian Büchter
- Institute for Research in Operative Medicine (IFOM), Faculty of Health-School of Medicine, Witten/Herdecke University, Cologne, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
| | - Kiran Kumar Ks
- Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Manipal University College Malaysia, Bukit Baru, Malaysia
| | - Sally Hanks
- Peninsula Dental School, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
| | - John Martin
- Sustainable Earth Institute, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
| | - Mona Nasser
- Peninsula Dental School, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
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Das S, Sil J. Managing Boundary Uncertainty in Diagnosing the Patients of Rural Area Using Fuzzy and Rough Set. JOURNAL OF HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS RESEARCH 2022; 6:1-47. [PMID: 35419512 PMCID: PMC8982726 DOI: 10.1007/s41666-021-00109-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
People of rural India often suffer from acute health conditions like diarrhea, flu, lung congestion, and anemia, but they are not receiving treatment even at primary level due to scarcity of doctors and health infrastructure in remote villages. Health workers are involved in diagnosing the patients based on the symptoms and physiological signs. However, due to inadequate domain knowledge, lack of expertise, and error in measuring the health data, uncertainty creeps in the decision space, resulting many false cases in predicting the diseases. The paper proposes an uncertainty management technique using fuzzy and rough set theory to diagnose the patients with minimum false-positive and false-negative cases. We use fuzzy variables with proper semantic to represent the vagueness of input data, appearing due to measurement error. We derive initial degree of belonging of each patient in two different disease class labels (YES/NO) using the fuzzified input data. Next, we apply rough set theory to manage uncertainty in diagnosing the diseases by learning approximations of the decision boundary between the two class labels. The optimum lower and upper approximation membership functions for each disease class label have been obtained using Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm-II (NSGA-II). Finally, using the proposed disease_similarity_factor, new patients are diagnosed precisely with 98% accuracy and minimum false cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayan Das
- Department of Computer Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur, Howrah, West Bengal India
| | - Jaya Sil
- Department of Computer Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur, Howrah, West Bengal India
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Jones K, Quinn T, Mazor KM, Muehlschlegel S. Prognostic Uncertainty in Critically Ill Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury: A Multicenter Qualitative Study. Neurocrit Care 2021; 35:311-321. [PMID: 34080083 DOI: 10.1007/s12028-021-01230-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prognostic uncertainty is frequently cited as a barrier to communication between physicians and patients and is particularly burdensome for surrogate decision-makers, who must make choices on behalf of their incapacitated family members. The Conceptual Taxonomy of Uncertainty is one model through which physician and surrogate communication can be analyzed to identify strategies for reducing uncertainty in surrogate decision-making. Our objective was to examine themes of uncertainty in physician communication of prognosis and surrogate goals-of-care decision-making for critically ill patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). METHODS We performed a secondary analysis of a previous qualitative study that involved semistructured interviews of 16 surrogates of critically ill patients with TBI from two level 1 trauma centers and 20 TBI expert physicians from seven trauma centers. Open-ended questions about prognostic uncertainty were asked. We identified major themes with an inductive approach. The Conceptual Taxonomy of Uncertainty was applied to further characterize these themes as data-centered, system-centered, and patient-centered issues of uncertainty. RESULTS Nearly all surrogates (15 of 16) and physicians (19 of 20) recognized the emotional burden of uncertainty in the decision-making process for surrogates. More than three quarters of surrogates (13 of 16) described instances in which a lack of information regarding their loved one's disease or prognosis created uncertainty in their decision-making process, identifying both positive and negative instances of prognostic communication by physicians. We found that physicians used one of three strategies to communicate prognostic uncertainty to surrogates: leaving no room for uncertainty, honesty about uncertainty, and range of possibilities. These strategies did not meet the communication preferences of the majority of surrogates, with more than a third of decision-makers (6 of 15) being frustrated by too much ambiguity about prognosis as well as the failure to acknowledge the existence of uncertainty. CONCLUSIONS We found that physician communication strategies rarely addressed surrogate needs regarding uncertainty adequately, suggesting an urgent need for future research into improved communication of prognostic uncertainty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey Jones
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Thomas Quinn
- Department of Internal Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kathleen M Mazor
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Meyers Primary Care Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Susanne Muehlschlegel
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
- Department of Anesthesiology/Critical Care, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
- Department of Surgery, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
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Lee C, Hall K, Anakin M, Pinnock R. Towards a new understanding of uncertainty in medical education. J Eval Clin Pract 2021; 27:1194-1204. [PMID: 33089607 DOI: 10.1111/jep.13503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Revised: 09/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE, AIMS, AND OBJECTIVES Uncertainty is a complex and constant phenomenon in clinical practice. How medical students recognize and respond to uncertainty impacts on their well-being, career choices, and attitudes towards patients. It has been suggested that curricula should do more to prepare medical students for an uncertain world. In order to teach medical students about uncertainty, we need to understand how uncertainty has been conceptualized in the literature to date. The aim of this article is to explore existing models of uncertainty and to develop a framework of clinical uncertainty to aid medical education. METHOD A scoping literature review was performed to identify conceptual models of uncertainty in healthcare. Content and inductive analyses were performed to explore three dimensions of clinical uncertainty: sources of uncertainty, subjective influencers and responses to uncertainty. RESULTS Nine hundred one references were identified using our search strategy, of which, 24 met our inclusion criteria. It was possible to classify these conceptual models using one or more of three dimensions of uncertainty; sources, subjective influencers, and responses. Exploration and further classification of these dimensions led to the development of a framework of uncertainty for medical education. CONCLUSION The developed framework of clinical uncertainty highlights sources, subjective influencers, responses to uncertainty, and the dynamic relationship among these elements. Our framework illustrates the different aspects of knowledge as a source of uncertainty and how to distinguish between those aspects. Our framework highlights the complexity of sources of uncertainty, especially when including uncertainty arising from relationships and systems. These sources can occur in combination. Our framework is also novel in how it describes the impact of influencers such as personal characteristics, experience, and affect on perceptions of and responses to uncertainty. This framework can be used by educators and curricula developers to help understand and teach about clinical uncertainty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ciara Lee
- Department of General Practice and Rural Health, Otago Medical School, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Katherine Hall
- Department of General Practice and Rural Health, Otago Medical School, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Megan Anakin
- Education Unit, Otago Medical School, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Ralph Pinnock
- Education Unit, Otago Medical School, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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Reducing Diagnostic Error in the Intensive Care Unit. Engaging Uncertainty When Teaching Clinical Reasoning. ATS Sch 2020; 1:364-371. [PMID: 33870307 PMCID: PMC8015765 DOI: 10.34197/ats-scholar.2020-0043ps] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
As medicine continues to advance with improvements in technology, factual information has become more easily available at the bedside. Nevertheless, diagnostic error remains a salient concern for the medical community and public. To address this problem, two fundamental characteristics of the physician remain important: curiosity and the ability to apply critical reasoning to solve problems, often in the setting of imperfect knowledge and uncertainty. Historically, the teaching and recall of factual information, illness scripts, and pattern recognition are emphasized early in medical education. Students are often left with the impression that there is a single correct answer for every question; discussions of uncertainty are rare. Consequently, discomfort with uncertainty is common among doctors. As attention to explicit teaching of clinical reasoning increases, one must consider how to incorporate uncertainty into that teaching and to transform the clinical learning environment to embrace uncertainty. The authors propose the use of several simple methods easily employed in the critical care setting to make uncertainty explicit by changing the language used for expressing differential diagnosis, incorporating probabilities into daily sign-outs, and by implementing inductive reasoning when teaching critical thinking to offer learners a strategy for working through unknown problems; these approaches may normalize uncertainty, improve comfort with it, and reduce the impact of cognitive bias in decision-making. Comfort with uncertainty may result not only in improved clinical experiences for learning by transforming a once negative cognitive experience to a positive one but also in reduced susceptibility to thinking errors.
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Resilience in the Surgical Scheduling to Support Adaptive Scheduling System. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17103511. [PMID: 32443414 PMCID: PMC7277516 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17103511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Revised: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Operating Room (OR) managers frequently encounter uncertainties related to real-time scheduling, especially on the day of surgery. It is necessary to enable earlier identification of uncertainties occurring in the perioperative environment. This study aims to propose a framework for resilient surgical scheduling by identifying uncertainty factors affecting the real-time surgical scheduling through a mixed-methods study. We collected the pre- and post-surgical scheduling data for twenty days and a one-day observation data in a top-tier general university hospital in South Korea. Data were compared and analyzed for any changes related to the dimensions of uncertainty. The observations in situ of surgical scheduling were performed to confirm our findings from the quantitative data. Analysis was divided into two phases of fundamental uncertainties categorization (conceptual, technical and personal) and uncertainties leveling for effective decision-making strategies. Pre- and post-surgical scheduling data analysis showed that unconfirmed patient medical conditions and emergency cases are the main causes of frequent same-day surgery schedule changes, with derived factors that affect the scheduling pattern (time of surgery, overtime surgery, surgical procedure changes and surgery duration). The observation revealed how the OR manager controlled the unexpected events to prevent overtime surgeries. In conclusion, integrating resilience approach to identifying uncertainties and managing event changes can minimize potential risks that may compromise the surgical personnel and patients' safety, thereby promoting higher resilience in the current system. Furthermore, this strategy may improve coordination among personnel and increase surgical scheduling efficiency.
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Gheihman G, Johnson M, Simpkin AL. Twelve tips for thriving in the face of clinical uncertainty. MEDICAL TEACHER 2020; 42:493-499. [PMID: 30912996 DOI: 10.1080/0142159x.2019.1579308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Background: Effectively managing clinical uncertainty is increasingly recognized as a goal of medical education. Stress from uncertainty has been associated with depression and burnout in trainees and may also impact patient care. Despite its importance, however, strategies to embrace uncertainty in clinical practice are lacking.Aims: The literature on uncertainty in medicine was reviewed. Incorporating insights from faculty and students, 12 tips for healthcare educators to help themselves and others thrive in the face of clinical uncertainty were developed.Results: Educators will find the tips practical and easy to implement in their day-to-day interactions as clinicians and teachers. Tips are divided into tips for oneself; for implementing with students and trainees; and for implementing with patients and in healthcare systems.Conclusions: These tips can enhance healthcare professionals' and students' ability to thrive in the face of uncertainty. Strategies to embrace uncertainty are critical for ourselves, our trainees, our patients, and our healthcare systems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mark Johnson
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Mount Auburn Hospital, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Arabella L Simpkin
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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13
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Hill DL, Walter JK, Szymczak JE, DiDomenico C, Parikh S, Feudtner C. Seven Types of Uncertainty When Clinicians Care for Pediatric Patients With Advanced Cancer. J Pain Symptom Manage 2020; 59:86-94. [PMID: 31425822 PMCID: PMC6942218 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2019.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2019] [Revised: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Clinicians deciding whether to refer a patient or family to specialty palliative care report facing high levels of uncertainty. Most research on medical uncertainty has focused on prognostic uncertainty. As part of a pediatric palliative referral intervention for oncology teams we explored how uncertainty might influence palliative care referrals. OBJECTIVES To describe distinct meanings of the term "uncertainty" that emerged during the qualitative evaluation of the development and implementation of an intervention to help oncologists overcome barriers to palliative care referrals. METHODS We conducted a phenomenological qualitative analysis of "uncertainty" as experienced and described by interdisciplinary pediatric oncology team members in discussions, group activities and semistructured interviews regarding the introduction of palliative care. RESULTS We found that clinicians caring for patients with advanced cancer confront seven broad categories of uncertainty: prognostic, informational, individual, communication, relational, collegial, and inter-institutional. Each of these kinds of uncertainty can contribute to delays in referring patients to palliative care. CONCLUSION Various types of uncertainty arise in the care of pediatric patients with advanced cancer. To manage these forms of uncertainty, providers need to develop strategies and techniques to handle professionally challenging situations, communicate bad news, manage difficult interactions with families and colleagues, and collaborate with other organizations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas L Hill
- Pediatric Advanced Care Team, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jennifer K Walter
- Pediatric Advanced Care Team, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Julia E Szymczak
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Concetta DiDomenico
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Shefali Parikh
- Pediatric Advanced Care Team, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Chris Feudtner
- Pediatric Advanced Care Team, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
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Pomare C, Churruca K, Ellis LA, Long JC, Braithwaite J. A revised model of uncertainty in complex healthcare settings: A scoping review. J Eval Clin Pract 2019; 25:176-182. [PMID: 30467915 DOI: 10.1111/jep.13079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2018] [Revised: 10/28/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Uncertainty is a ubiquitous and dynamic presence throughout healthcare systems and encounters, affecting the quality and safety of care. Although previous research has attempted to categorize varieties of uncertainty, it is not clear if these classifications are applicable across various healthcare settings. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this review was to examine the applicability of the issues of uncertainty delineated in an established taxonomy across diverse healthcare domains, professions, and countries and to consider the complexity of these issues. METHODS Drawing on empirical research from three databases, we conducted a scoping review of the literature to identify types of uncertainty experienced by healthcare professionals. A framework synthesis design was employed to review and synthesize the literature across multiple healthcare settings. RESULTS The search identified 2285 articles, of which 94 met the inclusion criteria. Findings from included studies suggested professional uncertainty in healthcare is complex and pervasive. On the basis of our inability to categorize some studies in the issues of uncertainty outlined in the existing taxonomy, we proposed a revised model of uncertainty for healthcare professionals. CONCLUSIONS The revised model of uncertainty, the model of uncertainty in complex healthcare settings (MUCH-S), is applicable to various healthcare ecosystems and proposes a reflexive archetype that recognizes different issues of uncertainty while establishing that these are often interrelated in healthcare systems. This review offers healthcare professionals greater levels of understanding of this complex phenomenon and may support more informed and reflective decision-making, assisting them to better navigate uncertainties experienced in healthcare workplaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Pomare
- Centre for Healthcare Resilience and Implementation Science, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Kate Churruca
- Centre for Healthcare Resilience and Implementation Science, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Louise A Ellis
- Centre for Healthcare Resilience and Implementation Science, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Janet C Long
- Centre for Healthcare Resilience and Implementation Science, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jeffrey Braithwaite
- Centre for Healthcare Resilience and Implementation Science, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
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The Reality of Uncertainty in Mental Health Care Settings Seeking Professional Integration: A Mixed-Methods Approach. Int J Integr Care 2018; 18:13. [PMID: 30588218 PMCID: PMC6300768 DOI: 10.5334/ijic.4168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Uncertainty is a common experience in the complex adaptive health system, particularly amongst mental health professionals structured for the delivery of integrated care. Increased understanding of uncertainty will not necessarily make things more certain, but can act to sensitize professionals to the challenges they face. The aim of this study is to examine the types and situations of uncertainty experienced by professionals working in a mental health setting based on an integrated care model. The research assesses the impact of experience and professional group on reported uncertainties. Methods First, semi-structured interviews were undertaken with clinical and non-clinical staff to examine uncertainties experienced by professionals working in headspace centres in Australia. Second, an online survey was conducted to quantify the experiences of uncertainty and explore associations. Results Findings revealed three overarching and largely interrelated aspects of uncertainty, namely: decision-making; professional role; and external factors. Most commonly, staff reported experiences of uncertainty pertaining to deciding to accept a client into the service and then deciding how to treat them. This is often due to arbitrary, or overly-restrictive criteria in integrated care. Findings also suggested that uncertainty does not necessarily decline with experience and there were no significant differences in levels of uncertainty between clinical and non-clinical staff. Conclusions This study highlights the importance of acknowledging uncertainties and actively clarifying role ambiguities when working alongside diverse professionals in mental health care.
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Kim K, Lee YM. Understanding uncertainty in medicine: concepts and implications in medical education. KOREAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL EDUCATION 2018; 30:181-188. [PMID: 30180505 PMCID: PMC6127608 DOI: 10.3946/kjme.2018.92] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2018] [Revised: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 07/05/2018] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
In an era of high technology and low trust, acknowledging and coping with uncertainty is more crucial than ever. Medical uncertainty has been considered an innate feature of medicine and medical practice. An intolerance to uncertainty increases physicians' stress and the effects of burnout and may be a potential threat to patient safety. Understanding medical uncertainty and acquiring proper coping strategies has been regarded to be a core clinical competency for medical graduates and trainees. Integrating intuition and logic and creating a culture that acknowledges medical uncertainty could be suggested ways to teach medical uncertainty. In this article, the authors describe the concepts of medical uncertainty, its influences on physicians and on medical students toward medical decision making, the role of tolerance/intolerance to uncertainty, and proposed strategies to improve coping with medical uncertainty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kangmoon Kim
- Department of Medical Education, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Young-Mee Lee
- Department of Medical Education, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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Papoutsi C, Mattick K, Pearson M, Brennan N, Briscoe S, Wong G. Interventions to improve antimicrobial prescribing of doctors in training (IMPACT): a realist review. HEALTH SERVICES AND DELIVERY RESEARCH 2018. [DOI: 10.3310/hsdr06100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundInterventions to improve the antimicrobial prescribing practices of doctors have been implemented widely to curtail the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance, but have been met with varying levels of success.ObjectivesThis study aimed to generate an in-depth understanding of how antimicrobial prescribing interventions ‘work’ (or do not work) for doctors in training by taking into account the wider context in which prescribing decisions are enacted.DesignThe review followed a realist approach to evidence synthesis, which uses an interpretive, theory-driven analysis of qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods data from relevant studies.SettingPrimary and secondary care.ParticipantsNot applicable.InterventionsStudies related to antimicrobial prescribing for doctors in training.Main outcome measuresNot applicable.Data sourcesEMBASE (via Ovid), MEDLINE (via Ovid), MEDLINE In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations (via Ovid), PsycINFO (via Ovid), Web of Science core collection limited to Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) and Conference Proceedings Citation Index – Science (CPCI-S) (via Thomson Reuters), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) database (all via The Cochrane Library), Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts (ASSIA) (via ProQuest), Google Scholar (Google Inc., Mountain View, CA, USA) and expert recommendations.Review methodsClearly bounded searches of electronic databases were supplemented by citation tracking and grey literature. Following quality standards for realist reviews, the retrieved articles were systematically screened and iteratively analysed to develop theoretically driven explanations. A programme theory was produced with input from a stakeholder group consisting of practitioners and patient representatives.ResultsA total of 131 articles were included. The overarching programme theory developed from the analysis of these articles explains how and why doctors in training decide to passively comply with or actively follow (1) seniors’ prescribing habits, (2) the way seniors take into account prescribing aids and seek the views of other health professionals and (3) the way seniors negotiate patient expectations. The programme theory also explains what drives willingness or reluctance to ask questions about antimicrobial prescribing or to challenge the decisions made by seniors. The review outlines how these outcomes result from complex inter-relationships between the contexts of practice doctors in training are embedded in (hierarchical relationships, powerful prescribing norms, unclear roles and responsibilities, implicit expectations about knowledge levels and application in practice) and the mechanisms triggered in these contexts (fear of criticism and individual responsibility, reputation management, position in the clinical team and appearing competent). Drawing on these findings, we set out explicit recommendations for optimal tailoring, design and implementation of antimicrobial prescribing interventions targeted at doctors in training.LimitationsMost articles included in the review discussed hospital-based, rather than primary, care. In cases when few data were available to fully capture all the nuances between context, mechanisms and outcomes, we have been explicit about the strength of our arguments.ConclusionsThis review contributes to our understanding of how antimicrobial prescribing interventions for doctors in training can be better embedded in the hierarchical and interprofessional dynamics of different health-care settings.Future workMore work is required to understand how interprofessional support for doctors in training can contribute to appropriate prescribing in the context of hierarchical dynamics.Study registrationThis study is registered as PROSPERO CRD42015017802.FundingThe National Institute for Health Research Health Services and Delivery Research programme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chrysanthi Papoutsi
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Karen Mattick
- Centre for Research in Professional Learning, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Mark Pearson
- National Institute for Health Research Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care for the South West Peninsula, Institute of Health Research, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK
| | - Nicola Brennan
- Collaboration for the Advancement of Medical Education Research and Assessment, Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, Plymouth University, Plymouth, UK
| | - Simon Briscoe
- National Institute for Health Research Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care for the South West Peninsula, Institute of Health Research, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK
| | - Geoff Wong
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Papoutsi C, Mattick K, Pearson M, Brennan N, Briscoe S, Wong G. Social and professional influences on antimicrobial prescribing for doctors-in-training: a realist review. J Antimicrob Chemother 2017; 72:2418-2430. [PMID: 28859445 PMCID: PMC5890780 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkx194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2017] [Revised: 05/20/2017] [Accepted: 05/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Antimicrobial resistance has led to widespread implementation of interventions for appropriate prescribing. However, such interventions are often adopted without an adequate understanding of the challenges facing doctors-in-training as key prescribers. Methods The review followed a realist, theory-driven approach to synthesizing qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods literature. Consistent with realist review quality standards, articles retrieved from electronic databases were systematically screened and analysed to elicit explanations of antimicrobial prescribing behaviours. These explanations were consolidated into a programme theory drawing on social science and learning theory, and shaped though input from patients and practitioners. Results By synthesizing data from 131 articles, the review highlights the complex social and professional dynamics underlying antimicrobial prescribing decisions of doctors-in-training. The analysis shows how doctors-in-training often operate within challenging contexts (hierarchical relationships, powerful prescribing norms, unclear roles and responsibilities, implicit expectations about knowledge levels, uncertainty about application of knowledge in practice) where they prioritize particular responses (fear of criticism and individual responsibility, managing one's reputation and position in the team, appearing competent). These complex dynamics explain how and why doctors-in-training decide to: (i) follow senior clinicians' prescribing habits; (ii) take (or not) into account prescribing aids, advice from other health professionals or patient expectations; and (iii) ask questions or challenge decisions. This increased understanding allows for targeted tailoring, design and implementation of antimicrobial prescribing interventions. Conclusions This review contributes to a better understanding of how antimicrobial prescribing interventions for doctors-in-training can be embedded more successfully in the hierarchical and inter-professional dynamics of different healthcare settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chrysanthi Papoutsi
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Woodstock Road, Oxford OX2 6GG, UK
| | - Karen Mattick
- Centre for Research in Professional Learning, University of Exeter, St Luke’s Campus, Exeter EX1 2LU, UK
| | - Mark Pearson
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care South West Peninsula, Institute of Health Research, University of Exeter Medical School, South Cloisters, St Luke’s Campus, Exeter EX1 2LU, UK
| | - Nicola Brennan
- Collaboration for the Advancement of Medical Education Research & Assessment (CAMERA), Peninsula Schools of Medicine & Dentistry, Plymouth University, Drake Circus Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, UK
| | - Simon Briscoe
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care South West Peninsula, Institute of Health Research, University of Exeter Medical School, South Cloisters, St Luke’s Campus, Exeter EX1 2LU, UK
| | - Geoff Wong
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Woodstock Road, Oxford OX2 6GG, UK
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