Navigating Uncertainty in Clinical Practice: A Workshop to Prepare Medical Students to Problem-Solve During Complex Clinical Challenges.

Authors

• Frances Rusnack
• Dimitrios Papanagnou
• Kestrel Reopelle
• Dylan Devlin
• Jared Kilpatrick
• Martinique Ogle
• Mary Stephens
• Deborah Ziring
• Nethra Ankam

Publication/Presentation Date

1-1-2023

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.

Volume

19

First Page

11334

Last Page

11334

ISSN

2374-8265

Published In/Presented At

Rusnack, F., Papanagnou, D., Reopelle, K., Devlin, D., Kilpatrick, J., Ogle, M., Stephens, M., Ziring, D., & Ankam, N. (2023). Navigating Uncertainty in Clinical Practice: A Workshop to Prepare Medical Students to Problem-Solve During Complex Clinical Challenges. MedEdPORTAL : the journal of teaching and learning resources, 19, 11334. https://doi.org/10.15766/mep_2374-8265.11334

Disciplines

Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Health and Medical Administration | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods

PubMedID

37564325

Department(s)

Administration and Leadership

Document Type

Article