This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Uncertainty

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

GP's have to live with high degrees of uncertainty over diagnoses. The purpose of history-taking, clinical examination, tests and investigations is to narrow down uncertainty enough to allow a diagnostic label to be put on the condition and so enable subsequent action. Empirical trials of medication and expectant observation otherwise known as masterly inactivity can also be applied.

How far the process is taken depends on the doctor's and the patient's tolerance of uncertainty, the severity and treatability of the suspected disease and the benefits and risks of possible treatments.

It is important to ask whether a planned test or referral is likely to alter the management of the condition and whether it is probable that the patient will the better off for such intervention.


Create an account to add page annotations

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.