Consent to orthodontic treatment--is it working?
OBJECTIVE
To determine the level of patient and/or parent recall of previous consent to orthodontic treatment.


METHODS
Patients and/or parents of children who had been consented for orthodontic treatment were asked to complete a questionnaire on consent at least six months into their treatment.


METHODS
Bristol Dental Hospital.


METHODS
Forty-one consecutive patients and eight of their parents, with a combined age range of 12-59 years, with 61% being female and 39% male. The patients, and where applicable their parents, were identified as having previously signed a consent form at least six months previously. Each was asked to complete a questionnaire on aspects of the consent process.


RESULTS
Patients and parents demonstrated a high level of recall for the consent process concerning appliance type (89.8%), the reasons for treatment (96%), risks (75.5%), length of treatment (83.3%), the opportunity to ask questions (96%), and whether other information was provided (94%). However, further questioning on risks demonstrated poor recall for important factors such as decay (36.8%), root resorption (less than 21%), retention (56.3%) and length of retention (35%).


CONCLUSIONS
Overall the consent process works well but specific areas of concern centre around the risks of orthodontic treatment.
Ernst
S
S
Clevedon, Somerset, UK.
Elliot
T
T
Patel
A
A
Sigalas
D
D
Llandro
H
H
Sandy
J R
JR
Ireland
A J
AJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective; D012306:Risk; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires