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Table 2 Taxonomy of Uncertainty in Goals-of-Care Discussions (adapted from Han et al. [19])

From: Characterizing uncertainty in goals-of-care discussions among black and white patients: a qualitative study

Category

Type

Definition

Practical (system-centered)

Processes of care

Uncertainty related to practices of healthcare system and how the healthcare system operates, e.g., “should I consult with Dr. M?“

Structures of care

Uncertainty related to healthcare system (e.g., competence of the providers)

Scientific (data-centered)

Diagnosis

Uncertainty related to understanding of diagnosis (e.g., how far the cancer has advanced)

Causal explanations

Uncertainty that remains following causal explanations provided by the clinician regarding the person's health situation

Treatment

Uncertainty related to treatment (e.g., how the treatment works, options that exist, whether or not they will be effective)

Prognosis

Uncertainty related to what to expect from the course of illness

Personal (patient-centered)

Psycho-social

Effects of treatment on personal (family/friends) relationships or the welfare of one's loved ones

Existential

Future as well as more abstract uncertainty – such as the meaning of life or concepts related to religion/faith/spirituality