Tolerance of ambiguity is not related to decision-making styles in undergraduate nursing students

Abstract

Relationships of tolerance of ambiguity, decision-making style, risk-taking behaviors, and the use of supportive and complex care in end-of-life scenarios was investigated in this descriptive correlational study of 377 undergraduate nursing students. The mean for rational decision-making style was 2.332 (agree), while the overall mean for intuitive decision-making was 2.406 (range = 2.37 to 2.489) among all students although higher among sophomore students (2.489, SD = 0.655). The median tolerance of ambiguity scores was higher for juniors and seniors (9.00) compared to sophomore students (8.00). Intuitive decision-making was not associated with level of education. There was no statistically significant correlation between decision-making style and tolerance of ambiguity although there was a negative correlation between intuitive decision-making and tolerance of ambiguity (rs = -0.031, p = .547). Additionally, there was a negative small correlation between rational decision-making and tolerance of ambiguity (rs = -0.040, p = .441). Finally, there was a small statistically significant correlation for supportive care for vignette 1(rs = 0.119, p = .021). All correlations between intuition decision-making and supportive care were low (rs = –0.067-0.119). In conclusion, decision-making style was not related to supportive care. Although intuitive decision-making style was used more frequently by sophomores, there was no statistically significant difference between level of education and decision-making style or tolerance of ambiguity.