The Role of the Message Convergence Framework in Medical Decision Making

Abstract

This study investigated numerous complexities in medical decision making among obstetricians treating high-risk or complex pregnancies. Obstetricians in a southeastern state (N = 28) were interviewed using a guide based on the framework of message convergence. The study assessed how the physicians manage uncertainty surrounding patient care and engage in medical decision making in the midst of either unclear evidence or competing messages. As a result, the study found that message convergence plays a notable role in the obstetricians’ clinical decision making. Conclusions and practical recommendations are provided, and theoretical extensions to the message convergence framework in the clinical and communicative practices of the physicians are also advanced.