Patients' attitudes toward informed consent for intravenous contrast media.
OBJECTIVE
To assess patient attitudes concerning informed consent and the risks of ionic and nonionic contrast material, 1,197 completed questionnaires were obtained from individuals either awaiting contrast injection or waiting for other services.


METHODS
Six different questionnaire formats were administered, including two detailing the specific risks of ionic and nonionic contrast, respectively. Different questionnaire formats were used to assess whether the severity or the probability of adverse consequences had more influence on a patient's desire for information. Two questionnaires evaluated the effect of comparing medical risks to equivalent risks from everyday nonmedical activities.


CONCLUSIONS
Regardless of questionnaire format and the severity of potential risk, the large majority of individuals want some information before contrast injection, and approximately half view such information as essential. Individuals reacted more to the probability of a potential reaction than its severity, and to items ordered toward the end of a particular questionnaire than at the beginning.
Hopper
K D
KD
Department of Radiology, Penn State University, Hershey 17033.
Houts
P S
PS
McCauslin
M A
MA
Matthews
Y L
YL
Sefczek
R J
RJ
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001294:Attitude to Health; D032962:Consent Forms; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics; D030881:Disclosure; D004522:Educational Status; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D010414:Pennsylvania / Q000453:epidemiology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D003287:Contrast Media