How informed is consent? Understanding of pictorial and verbal probability information by medical inpatients.
Understanding probability information about treatment risks and benefits is a vital component of patients' decision making capacity. This study demonstrates extensive misunderstanding of verbal descriptions of probability by medical inpatients of all ages, questioning the extent of their capacity for giving informed consent. Pictorial descriptions of probability were well understood, suggesting their adoption into clinical practice.
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003142:Communication; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D008875:Middle Aged; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D011336:Probability; D014705:Verbal Behavior
Empirical Approach; Professional Patient Relationship