Pediatricians’ Communication about Medical Uncertainty: Goal-Oriented Communication and Uncertainty Management

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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Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.