Behind the hedges: how to convey uncertainty in imaging reports

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Medical Communication
• Clinical Decision Making

Background:

• Imaging reports are crucial for clinician communication.
• Ambiguity in uncertainty phrases leads to misinterpretation between radiologists and referring clinicians.
• Standardizing the expression and understanding of uncertainty is vital for patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To differentiate between uncertainty phrasing and hedging in medical imaging reports.
• To identify best practices for expressing and interpreting uncertainty in imaging reports.
• To propose methods for improving clarity in clinical communication.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review.
• Analysis of existing research on uncertainty in medical communication.
• Identification and synthesis of best practice examples.

Main Results:

• Significant disagreement exists regarding the meaning of uncertainty phrases among healthcare professionals.
• Current terminology does not effectively bridge the understanding gap.
• The study differentiates between uncertainty phrasing and hedging.

Conclusions:

• Clearer communication of uncertainty in imaging reports is essential.
• Standardized approaches are needed to ensure referring clinicians understand the degree of uncertainty expressed.
• Three potential approaches are suggested to improve practice.