Twelve tips for clinicians dealing with uncertainty when assessing learners

Abstract

Clinician educators often experience distress caused by uncertainty regarding how effectively to participate in assessment practices in a way that supports both their programs and their students. Uncertainty is a common state for clinicians, particularly for those who see patients with early or ill-defined illness presentations. While clinicians often feel ill at ease when facing uncertainty in the clinical realm, becoming comfortable with uncertainty and learning to manage such states are now recognized as vital components of clinical practice. Clinicians, as a result, have adopted a series of strategies to lessen the unease that uncertainty can create. While similar experiences plague clinician educators placed in assessment roles, much less attention has been given to how we can support individuals in the education setting. Here, the distress of uncertainty may be greater due to clinician educators having less experience with assessment practices. Fortunately, strategies that are effective in the clinical domain can be translated into the assessment realm to accommodate uncertainty when assessing learners. In this 12 tips article we offer guidance on the translation of such strategies.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

I. Scott

I. Scott, MD, MSc, is the Director of the Centre for Health Education Scholarship and an Associate Professor in the Department of Family Practice at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

A. Gingerich

A. Gingerich, ND, MMEd, PhD, is an assistant professor with the Northern Medical Program, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, Canada and CHES Scholar, Centre for Health Education Scholarship at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

K. W. Eva

K. W. Eva, PhD, is senior scientist and associate director in the Centre for Health Education Scholarship, Professor and Director of Educational Research and Development in the Department of Medicine at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.