[Assessment of the quality and psychological impact of information delivered using official consent forms in digestive endoscopy].
OBJECTIVE
To test the impact of information brochures and informed consent forms in patients undergoing digestive endoscopy procedures.


METHODS
All patients undergoing digestive endoscopy procedures during a two-month period were given information about the procedure to be performed by delivery of an information form produced by the French Endoscopy and Gastroenterology Societies. The patients were then asked to sign an inform consent form. A questionnaire about the informed consent form and the consent experience was given to all patients after the endoscopic procedure.


RESULTS
The questionnaire was completed by 108 consecutive patients. The informed consent form was completely read by 96.3% and understood by 95%. Sixteen percent asked for complementary information, all about complications. Twenty percent were distressed by the explanations. Receiving written information was surprising for 22.2% of the patients, and distressing for 18.5% mainly when endoscopy was planned without general anesthesia (P=0.01 versus general anesthesia). Obtaining informed consent was qualified as a normal procedure for 47.2%, but distressing for 19.4%. It was considered by 41.1% as a way for doctors to be discharged from their obligations.


CONCLUSIONS
The informed consent forms written by scientific societies are easy to understand. One third of the patients were distressed or surprised to be given oral or written information. To sign a written consent form before an endoscopy procedure is considered to be a means of discharging practitioners from their responsibilities for 30% of the patients.
Roque
Isabelle
I
Groupe de Recherche sur l'Appareil Digestif, Hôpital Charles Nicolle, Rouen. Isabelle.roque@chu-rouen.fr
Hochain
Patrick
P
Merle
Véronique
V
Lerebours
Eric
E
Hecketsweiler
Philippe
P
Ducrotté
Philippe
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires