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Clear Resin Casting of Arthropods for Use in Education, Outreach, and Research

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Diagnostic uncertainty: from education to communication.

Lekshmi Santhosh¹, Calvin L Chou², Denise M Connor²

¹Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, Divisions of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine and Hospital Medicine, University of California, 505 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.

Diagnosis (Berlin, Germany)

|March 10, 2019

Summary

Diagnostic uncertainty is a daily challenge in healthcare. This study proposes a model to discuss diagnostic uncertainty with trainees and patients, advocating for improved communication skills training.

Keywords:

communication medical education uncertainty

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Area of Science:

Medical Education
Clinical Practice
Healthcare Communication

Background:

Diagnostic uncertainty is prevalent in clinical settings, impacting both healthcare providers and patients.
Current educational frameworks lack a unified model for addressing and teaching diagnostic uncertainty.
Effective communication strategies for discussing uncertainty with trainees and patients are underdeveloped.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the relationship between diagnostic uncertainty and expertise.
To propose a novel 2x2 model for diagnostic accuracy and certainty.
To outline best practices for teaching diagnostic uncertainty and communicating it to patients.

Main Methods:

Conceptual model development.
Exploration of the intersection of expertise and uncertainty.
Framework for patient-provider communication on diagnostic uncertainty.

Main Results:

A 2x2 model of diagnostic accuracy and certainty is proposed for educational purposes.
An approach for effectively communicating diagnostic uncertainty to patients is outlined.
The importance of training healthcare professionals in these communication skills is highlighted.

Conclusions:

The proposed model facilitates discussions on diagnostic uncertainty with trainees.
Effective communication strategies can improve patient understanding and trust.
Integrating communication training on diagnostic uncertainty is crucial for medical education.