title: Using principles of health literacy to enhance the informed consent process.
abstract: THE LANGUAGE COMMONLY used in procedural/surgical consent forms often exceeds the average reading level of US patients, and many do not read the document before signing it. INCORPORATING READER-FRIENDLY language and formatting makes it more likely that patients will read the document, understand it, and therefore give informed consent. Adding "teach back" into the document provides a means of evaluating patient understanding. USING READER-FRIENDLY procedural/surgical consent documents merges the objectives of both health literacy and informed consent.
authors.affiliation: Trinity Regional Health Sytsem, Rock Island, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Bonne
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lorenzen
authors.forename: Constance E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Melby
authors.forename: Barb
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Earles
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D032882:Comprehension; D032962:Consent Forms; D003625:Data Collection; D004522:Educational Status; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D007802:Language; D008875:Middle Aged; D009740:Nursing Staff; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative