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Does physician uncertainty affect patient satisfaction?

C G Johnson1, J C Levenkron, A L Suchman

  • 1Department of Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, New York.

Journal of General Internal Medicine
|March 1, 1988
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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Physicians disclosing uncertainty about treatment recommendations may decrease patient satisfaction. Patients preferred clear recommendations, with satisfaction highest when uncertainty was not expressed.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Communication
  • Patient Satisfaction
  • Clinical Decision-Making

Background:

  • Physicians often face uncertainty when making therapeutic recommendations.
  • Patient satisfaction is a key outcome in healthcare encounters.
  • The disclosure and resolution of clinical uncertainty can impact patient perceptions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how patients' satisfaction is affected by the disclosure and resolution of physician uncertainty.
  • To compare patient satisfaction across different strategies for managing clinical uncertainty.

Main Methods:

  • 304 patients viewed one of five videotapes depicting a physician discussing antimicrobial prophylaxis.
  • Videotapes varied in physician's disclosure and resolution of uncertainty.

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  • Patient satisfaction was measured using a standardized questionnaire.

    • Main Results:

    • Significant differences in patient satisfaction were observed across videotape conditions (p = 0.001).
    • Highest satisfaction was reported when physicians disclosed no uncertainty.
    • Lowest satisfaction occurred when uncertainty was expressed but not resolved or when a reference book was consulted.

    Conclusions:

    • The manner of disclosing and resolving clinical uncertainty significantly impacts patient satisfaction.
    • Patients tend to be more satisfied when physicians present clear therapeutic recommendations without expressing uncertainty.