Authors:
Brent N. Reed, PharmD, MS, BCCP
Reviewers:
Stuart T. Haines, PharmD, BCPS, BCACP
Citation:
Begin AS, Hidrue M, Lehrhoff S, et al. Factors Associated with Physician Tolerance of Uncertainty: An Observational Study. J Gen Intern Med 2021; 37(6):1415–21
The Problem
Health professionals must deal with a lot of uncertainty in their work, such as weighing the risks and benefits of various treatment options, determining whether a patient’s symptoms are an adverse effect of medication therapy, or deciding if adding a new drug to the formulary will be cost-effective. Because uncertainty is a known source of stress, people who experience greater uncertainty in their work or have a lower tolerance of uncertainty could be at increased risk of burnout and other stress-related harms. But are there strategies to help health professionals better understand and manage uncertainty in their work? A new study sheds light on several contextual factors that contribute to low tolerance of uncertainty and some potential opportunities for intervention.
Definitely enjoyed this episode and would love to see continued focus on well-being!
Thank you for the feedback!
I loved listening to this over lunch today! Thank you for bringing us meaningful and actionable content on this very important topic!
Awesome! Thank you for the feedback, Maria!