Exploring response process validity of uncertainty tolerance scales implemented among health professions students.

ABSTRACT: Uncertainty tolerance (UT) describes how individuals perceive and respond to uncertainty. Quantitative UT scales developed with physicians have been widely used in the health professions literature; however, recent studies have raised questions about their validity when implemented among students. This study explored response process validity of two commonly implemented UT scales, the Physician's Reactions to Uncertainty (PRU1995) and Tolerance for Ambiguity (TFA) scales, addressing the research question: How do health professions students conceptualize uncertainty tolerance in scale items, and what features of the scales (e.g., clarity, context, or relatability of items) influence their conceptualizations? Cognitive interviewing captured the thought processes of Australian (11) and US (22

SUBMITTER: Eastwood JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12319371 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature