Are You Sure? Tolerance of Uncertainty and the Risk of Stress-Related Harm

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.