How we Communicate Uncertainty in Healthcare. Presented by Dr Vanda Nissen

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Presenter Dr Vanda Nissen

Uncertainty penetrates healthcare. There is uncertainty of diagnosis, outcomes, treatment options etc. While health practitioners (HP) mostly acknowledge and accept existence of uncertainty, they also need to communicate it to their patients who prefer clear communication.

Our studies examined how different speakers use and interpret uncertainty expressions used in health communication. In two experimental studies we examined how different groups of speakers (bilinguals, young and old monolinguals of Australian English) understand such words as probably, maybe etc. when used in health communication, while in the third study we explored how individuals discuss uncertainty in real life communication in an Australian Emergency Department context.