What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate how clinicians communicate uncertainty during Parkinson disease consultations and its effect on patient outcomes.

May 11, 2026Open Access

Clinician Communication About Uncertainty During Parkinson Disease Diagnostic Consultations

MHMarij A. HillenAmsterdam Public Health EKElisabeth KurpershoekAmsterdam University Medical Centers MHMark HuismanSt. Antonius Ziekenhuis

Key Points

To evaluate how clinicians communicate uncertainty during Parkinson disease consultations and its effect on patient outcomes.
Assessing clinician communication during diagnostic consultations for Parkinson disease
Evaluating the effects of communication on patient feelings of uncertainty and trust
Analyzing the moderating role of clinician and patient tolerance for uncertainty
Clinicians' communication style significantly influences patients' feelings of uncertainty (p<0.05)
Higher patient trust correlates with effective communication (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.5-3.5)
Moderating effects of patients' tolerance for uncertainty observed, suggesting variability in patient responses.

Abstract

Parkinson disease (PD) entails much uncertainty, regarding diagnosis, disease course, and treatment. How clinicians communicate about such uncertainty may affect patients' understanding of the information and their well-being. However, clinicians rarely receive formal training in how to optimally discuss uncertainty during diagnostic consultations. We assessed (1) how clinicians communicate about uncertainty, (2) how their communication about uncertainty predicts patients' feelings of uncertainty and trust, and (3) the moderating effect of clinicians' and patients' tolerance for uncertainty.

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