Introduction.

Uncertainty is one of the difficulties in defining the meaning of situations related to diseases; it is also a significant source of psychosocial stress during their trajectory. Endoscopic exams, although minimally invasive, generate fear and uncertainty. Cancer (gastric, colorectal) is a premature cause of mortality; diagnostic aids are necessary for its detection, which generate uncertainty.

Objective.

This work sought to determine the level of uncertainty in people prior to an endoscopy or colonoscopy procedure, according to Mishel’s theory.

Materials and Method.

Quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study, non-probability convenience sampling. The sample was made up of 477 participants who were administered "Merle Mishel’s uncertainty in disease scale", adapted for diagnostic procedures in 2017, with Cronbach's alpha of 0.90. The statistical analysis was performed by calculating measures of central tendency, dispersion, and position measures.

Results.

The mean age was 53 years, 51.5% had moderate level of uncertainty; the higher the level of education, the lower the uncertainty (p = 6.286), the dimension with the highest level of uncertainty was complexity.

Conclusions.

Uncertainty caused by a situation, such as the diagnosis of a chronic disease causes a stressful state in individuals. Application of Mishel’s theory guides nursing professionals to identify levels of uncertainty by developing coping mechanisms to achieve adaptation to the results exposed.

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