Simple Summary
In veterinary practice, professionals often face challenges when making diagnoses and treatment plans due to the inherent uncertainties in their field. These uncertainties can arise from various factors, including the complexity of animal health, a lack of complete knowledge, and the unpredictability of cases. Understanding the difference between clinical ambiguity—where multiple hypotheses seem valid—and medical uncertainty—where veterinarians lack confidence in their knowledge—is crucial. Uncertainty can negatively impact decision-making, leading to errors and biases, but it can also encourage curiosity and problem-solving. Despite the importance of managing uncertainty, veterinary education often neglects to teach coping strategies, which are usually learned through experience. This review emphasizes the need for veterinary professionals to develop strategies for dealing with uncertainty, as it can influence their mental health and the quality of care they provide. By enhancing education and communication about uncertainty, veterinarians can improve their practice and client relationships.
Abstract
This narrative review examines the complexities of medical uncertainty in veterinary practice, highlighting its significant implications for clinical reasoning and decision-making. Veterinary professionals face inherent uncertainties due to factors such as biological variability, incomplete knowledge, and the pressures of rapidly evolving practices. The distinction between clinical ambiguity and medical uncertainty is crucial, as it informs the coping strategies employed by veterinarians. While uncertainty is often viewed negatively, it can stimulate curiosity and enhance problem-solving capabilities. This review categorizes uncertainty into aleatoric and epistemic types, offering insights into their origins and impacts on veterinary professionals and client interactions. The dynamic nature of uncertainty influences both immediate clinical encounters and long-term professional development, with varying effects based on individual tolerance levels and situational stakes. Despite the growing body of literature on uncertainty, veterinary education often neglects to address this critical aspect, leading to a gap in metacognitive competencies among practitioners. We have included a case example that offers explicit guidelines on the application of the Five Microskills model of clinical teaching. This model is proposed to assist veterinary professionals in effectively managing uncertainty. To enhance the quality of veterinary care, there is an urgent need to integrate uncertainty management into veterinary curricula and ongoing professional development. By fostering an environment that acknowledges and addresses uncertainty, veterinary professionals can improve their clinical reasoning, strengthen client relationships, and ultimately enhance patient outcomes. This review advocates for the adoption of evidence-based practices and collaborative approaches to navigate the complexities of uncertainty, ensuring high standards of care in veterinary medicine.