Managing Uncertainty: A Path to Better Patient Care

Effective communication about uncertainty is essential in medicine. Challenges in conveying uncertainty regarding medical tests, treatments, or diagnoses can sometimes lead to misunderstandings that affect patient care. Fortunately, there are innovative projects, like Uncertainty in Medicine, a new podcast series from The Nocturnists, that help clinicians discuss and communicate uncertainty more effectively.

During this webinar, hosts of the Uncertainty in Medicine series (Emily Silverman & Alexa Miller) spoke to Pamela Browner White to explore the themes of the podcast series, discussing the importance of effectively communicating uncertainty to improve patient safety and trust. They share their insights into how they approach uncertainty in health care and how they examine various dimensions of uncertainty through storytelling. They also delve into the crucial role of trust, both from the physician’s and patient’s perspectives, in managing uncertain medical situations.