Experiences of the Management of Uncertainty Amongst Musculoskeletal First Contact Practitioners Working in Primary Care

This study provides further insight into how FCPs manage uncertainty. Management of uncertainty was influenced by many factors, including: clinician experience, patient complexity and wider medical knowledge, fear of over-medicalising patients, communication and consultation styles and having protected non-clinical time. Recommendations for clinical practice include: consideration of the challenges facing FCPs, and what support is needed to maintain staff retention, health and wellbeing; consideration of how FCPs might best approach meeting the needs of an ageing population and supporting change in health and wellness behaviour. The key to successful management of uncertainty was having a supportive team which encouraged open non-judgemental discussions about uncertainty.