1. Navigating Uncertainty in Clinical Practice: A Workshop to Prepare Medical Students to Problem-Solve During Complex Clinical Challenges.
- Author
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Rusnack F, Papanagnou D, Reopelle K, Devlin D, Kilpatrick J, Ogle M, Stephens M, Ziring D, and Ankam N
- Subjects
- Humans, Uncertainty, Emotions, Surveys and Questionnaires, Students, Medical, Medicine
- Abstract
Introduction: Uncertainty is an inherent part of medicine. Prior work has trained medical students to better communicate diagnostic uncertainty; however, this work touches on only one aspect of the uncertainty students will face in practice. We developed a session to provide them with a taxonomy for categorizing the various types of uncertainty, as well as a framework to apply when navigating uncertainty during clinical challenges. These tools can help students make sense of uncertainty and determine actions in a complex health system., Methods: We designed a virtual workshop for third-year medical students at the end of their core clerkships. It included a didactic session followed by a small-group immersive unfolding case experience with several challenge points during which we tasked students with applying the framework, classifying the uncertainty domain, and discussing how they would problem-solve each scenario., Results: We conducted the workshop with 128 third-year medical students. We collected data through an anonymous postsession survey (86% response rate; 110 of 128 students). Most found the workshop useful (64%; 54 of 85), and a large number found the framework helpful in appraising uncertainty (47%; 42 of 89). A majority felt their perspectives on uncertainty changed after the workshop (66%; 73 of 110). Students integrated prior health systems science knowledge in their strategies to problem-solve each challenge., Discussion: This session provides a novel application of a sense-making framework and taxonomy for medical students to classify uncertainty. It offers a simple, low-cost, interactive, virtual activity that can be implemented at other institutions., (© 2023 Rusnack et al.)
- Published
- 2023
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