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

Aim: To develop a deeper understanding of strategies used to manage uncertainty by Musculoskeletal First Contact Practitioners (MSK FCPs), including barriers to and facilitators for these strategies.

Background: MSK FCP services provide patients with an alternative to seeing their GP regarding MSK complaints. Research suggests that the role demands different skills and attributes from traditional physiotherapy roles, including the ability to deal with greater clinical uncertainty. There is a lack of research evaluating the strategies FCPs find most helpful for managing uncertainty.

Method: A qualitative study using semi-structured online interviews. Participants were recruited using convenience sampling. Data was analysed using Braun & Clarke's reflexive approach to thematic analysis. The research was underpinned by a theoretical framework of hermeneutic phenomenology.

Findings: Nine participants were recruited. Three main themes were developed: (1) Being comfortable with being uncomfortable; (2) Teamwork makes the dream work and (3) Navigating uncertainty with patients.

Conclusion: 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.