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CHAP TER

Merle H. Mishel
1939 to present

Uncertainty in Illness Theory

Donald E. Bailey, Jr. and Janet L. Stewart

“My theory can be applied to both practice and research. It has been used to explain
clinical situations and design interventions that lead to evidence-based practice. Current
and future nurse scientists have and will continue to extend the theory to different
patient populations. This work has the potential to transform health care.
(Mishel, personal communication, May 28, 2008)”

The original scale has been used as the basis for the
Credentials and Background following three additional scales:
of the Theorist 1. A community version (MUIS-C) for chronically ill
Merle H. Mishel was born in Boston, Massachusetts. individuals who are not hospitalized or receiving
She graduated from Boston University with a B.A. in active medical care
1961 and received her M.S. in psychiatric nursing 2. A measure of parents’ perceptions of uncer-
from the University of California in 1966. Mishel tainty (PPUS) with regard to their child’s illness
completed her M.A. and Ph.D. in social psychology experience
at the Claremont Graduate School in Claremont, 3. A measure of uncertainty in spouses or other fam-
California, in 1976 and 1980, respectively. Her ily members when another member of the family
dissertation research was supported by a National is acutely ill (PPUS-FM)
Research Service Award to develop and test the Early in her professional career, Mishel practiced
Perceived Ambiguity in Illness Scale, later named as a psychiatric nurse in acute care and community
the Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale (MUIS-A). settings. While pursuing her doctorate, she was on

Photo Credit: Dr. Michael Belyea, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC.
The authors wish to think Dr. Merle Mishel for her review and input for this chapter.

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