title: Patients' perceptions of written consent: questionnaire study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine patients' understanding of the status, function, and remit of written consent to surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective questionnaire study. Questionnaires were sent to patients within one month of surgery. Responses were analysed with frequencies and single variable analyses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Large teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  732 patients who had undergone surgery in obstetrics and gynaecology over a six month period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients' awareness of the legal implications of written consent and their views on the function and remit of the consent form.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients had limited understanding of the legal standing of written consent. Nearly half (46%, 95% confidence interval 43% to 50%) of patients believed the primary function of consent forms was to protect hospitals and 68% (65% to 71%) thought consent forms allowed doctors to assume control. Only 41% (37% to 44%) of patients believed consent forms made their wishes known.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Many patients seem to have limited awareness of the legal implications of signing or not signing consent forms, and they do not recognise written consent as primarily serving their interests. Current consent procedures seem inadequate as a means for the expression of autonomous choice, and their ethical standing and credibility can be called into question.
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Science Section, Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine, University of Leicester, Leicester LE2 7LX.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akkad
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kenyon
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dixon-Woods
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Taub
authors.forename: Marwan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Habiba
mesh_terms: D032962:Consent Forms; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010465:Perception; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000941:ethics / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*