Negotiating uncertainty in clinical encounters: A narrative exploration of naturally occurring primary care consultations (9 October 2021)

Summary

This article in Social Science & Medicine examines how GPs and patients explore medical and existential uncertainty in consultations. The authors analysed 20 naturally occurring clinical consultations between general practitioners and patients in England, focusing on interactions and how they negotiated uncertainty. They found that the doctor-patient dynamic contributes significantly to the way in which medical uncertainty is discussed. By conceptualizing uncertainty in an indirect and depersonalized manner, GPs manage to safeguard against clinical errors without compromising their authority and credibility.