Dogan HH, Işik E, Vural E, Vehid H, Brezis M. Quality and extent of informed consent for invasive procedures: a pilot study at the institutional level in Turkey.
Int J Qual Health Care 2014;
27:46-51. [PMID:
25502322 DOI:
10.1093/intqhc/mzu093]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To assess the quality of informed consent for patients undergoing invasive procedures and to reveal patient preferences for being informed about the potential risks of treatment and alternatives to treatment.
DESIGN
This study was planned as a pilot study. Hospitalized patients' perceptions and expectations about the informed-consent process were explored in a general surgery department. The prepared questionnaire was completed by patients via interview.
SETTING
Inpatient services of the general surgery department of a large academic hospital in Istanbul, Turkey.
PARTICIPANTS
The study population consisted of hospitalized patients in a general surgery department who underwent invasive procedures in March 2013.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Recognition of consent forms by the patients, rate of patients' recall of risks, rate of patients who were willing to be involved in decision making, and rate of patients who were satisfied with the whole decision-making process were measured.
RESULTS
All patients signed consent forms. Most patients did not properly read the consent form since they trusted their physician. Potential exposure to risk seemed to be important for patient expectations.
CONCLUSIONS
Paternalism seemed to dominate our clinical setting. The informed-consent process was definitely a separate issue from signing the consent forms. We conclude that the informed-consent process should be modified to be more functional and appropriate to human psychology. We suggest that education is necessary for informed consent to promote better quality and safety in health care.
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