Understanding and Managing Uncertainty in Healthcare: Revisiting and Advancing Sociological Contributions

Through one theoretical paper and empirical studies of contemporary examples of healthcare related uncertainties and their management, this collection discusses the different ways in which uncertainty may be articulated, enacted and experienced.  

• Considers the role of ‘implicit normativity’ in masking and containing potential ethical uncertainty  
• Presents core analytical strands: (1) conceptualising uncertainty; (2) intersections of uncertainty with aspects of care; (3) managing uncertainty; and (4) structural constraints, economic austerity and uncertainty work 
• Reflects on the methodological and theoretical stances used to think sociologically about uncertainty in healthcare  
• Considers the implications of the insights gained for ‘synthesising certainty’ in practice and for future research in this area

Nicola Mackintosh is an Associate Professor in Social Science applied to Health at the University of Leicester, UK. Her research interests include the construct of ‘rescue’ and provider response in managing acute illness, the role of new technologies in shaping patient-provider roles, and risk and uncertainty in pregnancy and childbirth.

Natalie Armstrong is Professor of Healthcare Improvement Research at the University of Leicester, UK. A medical sociologist, her work uses sociological ideas and methods to understand health and illness and to tackle problems in the delivery of high-quality healthcare. She has a particular interest in women’s and children’s health, and in preventative healthcare.