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)Â 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 |