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Table 1 Principal component factor analysis with varimax rotation (eigenvalue > 1)

From: Validation and cultural adaptation of a German version of the Physicians' Reactions to Uncertainty scales

 

Anxiety due to uncertainty

Concern about bad outcomes

Disclosing uncertainty to patients

Disclosing mistakes to physicians

Explaining % of variance

19.88

20.31

18.57

12.97

1. I usually feel anxious when I am not sure of a diagnosis.

0.757

0.198

0.147

-0.018

2. I find the uncertainty involved in patient care disconcerting.

0.858

0.259

0.048

0.118

3. Uncertainty in patient care makes me uneasy.

0.844

0.301

0.084

0.032

4. I am quite comfortable with the uncertainty in patient care.

0.727

0.167

0.093

0.165

5. The uncertainty of patient care often troubles me.

0.442

0.690

-0.025

-0.007

6. When I am uncertain of a diagnosis, I imagine all sorts of bad scenarios – patient dies, patient sues, etc...

0.186

0.824

-0.001

-0.015

7. I fear being held accountable for the limits of my knowledge.

0.211

0.853

-0.102

0.070

8. I worry about malpractice when I do not know a patient's diagnosis.

0.279

0.851

0.026

0.112

9. When physicians are uncertain of a diagnosis, they should share this information with their patients.

-0.042

0.058

0.709

0.299

10. I always share my uncertainty with my patients.

0.165

-0.235

0.774

-0.022

11. If I shared all of my uncertainties with my patients, they would lose confidence in me.

0.118

0.371

0.618

-0.077

12. Sharing my uncertainty improves my relationship with my patients.

0.059

-0.114

0.829

0.196

13. I prefer patients not know when I am uncertain of what treatments to use.

0.088

-0.008

0.728

-0.002

14. I almost never tell other physicians about diagnoses I have missed.

0.098

0.052

0.145

0.935

15. I never tell other physicians about patient care mistakes I have made.

0.124

0.046

0.102

0.936