title: Informed consent in dermatologic surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The issue of informed consent retention has not been previously addressed in dermatology literature. Several studies in other fields of medicine have shown that retention rates are below 50%.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the percentage of complications recalled at 20 minutes and at 1 week after the informed consent process.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-five consecutive patients undergoing Mohs micrographic surgery were given verbal and written instructions, including 10 potential complications. Patients were asked to recall these complications at 20 minutes and at 1 week after the informed consent process.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall group retention rate at 20 minutes and at 1 week were 26.5% and 24.4%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients undergoing elective Mohs micrographic surgery have an overall retention rate of 26.5% just 20 minutes after being informed of 10 possible complications. It is obvious that the informed consent protocol needs additional modalities in order to improve overall retention rates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 619 NE 13th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fleischman
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Garcia
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003880:Dermatology / Q000941:ethics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D008875:Middle Aged; D015580:Mohs Surgery / Q000941:ethics