MEDICAL UNCERTAINTY: ARE WE BETTER OFF IN ERA OF EVIDENCE BASED MEDICINE?
Journal Title: International Journal of Medical Research & Health Sciences (IJMRHS) - Year 2015, Vol 4, Issue 1
Abstract
Uncertainty is inherent to the medical profession. Medical profession incorporates science and the scientific method with the art of being a physician. Every decision a clinician makes has some degree of uncertainty in it. There are several factors which result in medical uncertainty during clinical practice, and this could arise from physicians as well as patient factors, from test and treatment characteristics and practice environment. The inability to come at a conclusion, despite a thorough and reasonable evaluation generates anxiety amongst patients and physicians and the relationship between them may become strained and unproductive. Personal tolerance to ambiguity and uncertainty also plays a significant role in medical students when it comes to career choice. Medical Uncertainty may be technical, personal or conceptual. In the era of information overload and ‘evidence based medicine’ where guidelines, protocols and algorithms are available for every symptom complex and disease, one would expect medical uncertainty to be less if not totally eliminated but that is actually not the case. In fact, the protocols also threaten to depersonalize the relationship between the doctor and the patient. This article reviews the underlying mechanisms, causes and effects of medical uncertainty and also some methods to reduce uncertainty in today’s clinical practice.
Authors and Affiliations
Arun Tyagi| Professor, Department of Medicine, Padmashree Dr. Vithalrao Vikhe Patil Foundation’s Medical College and Hospital, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, India, Corresponding author email: aruntyagidr@gmail.com, Sharad Garudkar| Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Padmashree Dr. Vithalrao Vikhe Patil Foundation’s Medical College and Hospital, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, India, Gagare AG| Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Padmashree Dr. Vithalrao Vikhe Patil Foundation’s Medical College and Hospital, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, India, Amit Thopte| Resident, Department of Medicine, Padmashree Dr. Vithalrao Vikhe Patil Foundation’s Medical College and Hospital, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, India
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP11368
- DOI 10.5958/2319-5886.2015.00034.X
- Views 262
- Downloads 12
ALERT!!! BEWARE OF MOBILE PHONES!!! HAS A GREAT ROLE IN DISEASE TRANSMISSION, CLEAN THEM UP!!!! SAFE TO HANDLE...
Introduction: Socially and professionally mobile phones are indispensable and are used in an environment of high microbial flora. This study is alerting to “Beware of Mobile Phones!!! has a great role in disease tran...
Threat of the feminine identity: The emerging structure in exploring the process of women's empowerment for menopause management: A grounded theory study
Women empowerment in different spheres of life especially menopause is among the key elements of health promotion in all communities. However there is no realistic images of empowering women in menopausal symptoms mana...
The Impact of Teenage Pregnancy on Maternal and Perinatal Outcome
To study the impact of teenage pregnancy on maternal and perinatal outcome. This is a randomized prospective clinical study carried out in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology department, BGS Global Medical College, over a p...
STROKE IN A CHILD AS A COMPLICATION OF IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA: A CASE REPORT
Stroke is characterized by the sudden loss of blood circulation to an area of the brain, resulting in monoparesis, hemi paresis and dysphasia. Nutritional anemia is a common problem all over the world. Especially Iron...
Analysis of the Concept of Successful Breast-Feeding
Background: There is no comprehensive defnition of successful breastfeeding that consequently leads to failure in identifcation of ineffective breastfeeding and clinical problems that, in turn, result in infants’ earl...