title: Tolerance of uncertainty and fears of making mistakes among fifth-year medical students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Tolerance of uncertainty is an important skill among general practitioners (GPs). Our aim was to study fifth-year medical students' feelings related to facing uncertainty and fears of making mistakes in medical decisions. Further, we studied the associations of intolerance of uncertainty with demographic factors, the students' fears of making mistakes, and their views of a GP's work prior to their ultimate course in general practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire-based survey was carried out among the fifth-year medical students prior to their main course in general practice at the University of Helsinki. The questionnaire included demographic variables and inquired about their views of their own tolerance of uncertainty, fear of making mistakes, and of a GP's work overall.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the years 2008--2010, 307/359 medical students (mean age 25.7 years, 64% females) responded. Of the respondents, 22% felt they had difficulty tolerating uncertainty when making medical decisions. Females reported that they tolerated uncertainty poorly more often (27%) than did males (11%). Those tolerating uncertainty more poorly were more often afraid of making mistakes (100% versus 86%). This group more often considered a GP's work too difficult and challenging than did others.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Poor self-reported tolerance of uncertainty among medical students is associated with considering a GP's work too challenging.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice, University of Helsinki, Finland. maarit.nevalainen@helsinki.fi
authors.forename: Maarit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nevalainen
authors.forename: Liisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kuikka
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sjoberg
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eriksson
authors.forename: Kaisu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pitkala
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000523:psychology*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D035501:Uncertainty