title: Video consent: a pilot study of informed consent in laparoscopic urology and its impact on patient satisfaction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In the current climate of increasing awareness, patients are demanding more knowledge of the operative process. We report a new protocol for consenting patients. In addition to the normal consent process, patients are invited to watch a video of the operation to gain a perspective of what is involved. We applied this novel method of consent and assessed its impact on patient satisfaction.
  
  
  METHODS
  As part of postoperative follow-up, prospective data from 43 consecutive laparoscopic patients was obtained in the form of a self-constructed, patient-directed questionnaire regarding the consenting process. Patients were also invited to complete the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ-8) 4 weeks after their operation. Laparoscopic workload included nephrectomy (n = 27), deroofing of cysts (n = 2), pyeloplasty (n = 6), exploration for undescended testis (n = 6), lymph node dissection (n = 1), and nephropexy (n = 1). To reduce bias, an individual independent of the team treating the patient conducted these surveys.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All study participants read the information leaflet before laparoscopic surgery, and 81% thought we should give patients the option to watch a video before their surgery. The leaflet information was understood by 92% of patients. All patients who opted to watch a video found it helpful to their understanding, and 75% requested a copy of the video of their own operation. The mean patient satisfaction (CSQ-8) score was 29.8 of a possible maximum score of 32.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This novel approach to informed consent has had a positive impact on the patient journey as is evident from high satisfaction scores. Additional randomized, controlled trials need to be conducted to evaluate video consenting methods in laparoscopic urology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Guy's Hospital and St. Thomas' NHS Trust and GKT School of Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: Arun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sahai
authors.forename: Rajesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kucheria
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Challacombe
authors.forename: Prokar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dasgupta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003626:Data Display; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013520:Urologic Surgical Procedures; D014741:Video Recording