Communicating diagnostic uncertainty in the acute and emergency medical setting: A systematic review and ethical analysis of the empirical literature.
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Authors
Hart, J
Cox, CL
Kuhn, I
Fritz, Z
Publication Date
2021Journal Title
Acute Med
ISSN
1747-4884
Publisher
Rila Publications Ltd
Volume
20
Issue
3
Pages
204-218
Language
eng
Type
Article
This Version
AM
Physical Medium
Print
Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Hart, J., Cox, C., Kuhn, I., & Fritz, Z. (2021). Communicating diagnostic uncertainty in the acute and emergency medical setting: A systematic review and ethical analysis of the empirical literature.. Acute Med, 20 (3), 204-218. https://doi.org/10.52964/AMJA.0865
Abstract
BACKGROUND: diagnostic uncertainty is ubiquitous. Its communication to patients requires further investigation. AIMS: To determine: 1) What is known about how and why diagnostic uncertainty is communicated in acute care; 2) evidence of the effects of (not) communicating diagnostic uncertainty in the acute setting; 3) associated ethical issues. METHODS: systematic review of Medline, Web of Science and SCOPUS for (acute or emergency care) AND (diagnostic uncertainty) AND (ethics OR behaviours). Critical interpretive synthesis and ethical analysis were conducted. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Nine studies (primarily surveys and interviews) were identified. Doctors are not trained in communicating diagnostic uncertainty and perceive it to have negative effects on patients; however not communicating diagnostic uncertainty can disempower patients, resulting in delayed/missed diagnoses or inappropriate use of resource.
Keywords
Humans, Uncertainty, Communication, Ethical Analysis, Emergency Service, Hospital, Surveys and Questionnaires
Sponsorship
Wellcome Trust (208213/Z/17/Z)
Embargo Lift Date
2100-01-01
Identifiers
External DOI: https://doi.org/10.52964/AMJA.0865
This record's URL: https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/331134
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