Is there ever a single best answer (SBA): assessment driving certainty in the uncertain world of GP?

Abstract

Uncertainty is inherent in all areas of medical practice, not least in primary care, which is defined by its acceptance of uncertainty and complexity. Single best answer (SBA) questions are a ubiquitous assessment tool in undergraduate medical assessments; however clinical practice, particularly in primary care, challenges the supposition that a single best answer exists for all clinical encounters and dilemmas. In this article, we seek to highlight several aspects of the relationship between this assessment format and clinical uncertainty by considering its influence on medical students’ views of uncertainty in the contexts of their medical education, personal epistemology, and clinical expectations.