Value of informed consent in surgical orthodontics.
OBJECTIVE
Informed consent forms an important part of treatment, especially in the case of elective treatment. The aim of this survey was to establish how much patients can recall of the information given during an informed consent interview before orthognathic surgery. During the consultation, attention was given to all aspects of the treatment. However, because of "insurance-related factors," the need for treatment because of functional reasons was stressed over esthetics. The recall of information given during an informed consent interview before orthognathic surgery was measured using a questionnaire.


METHODS
Patients with a mandibular deficiency with a low mandibular plane angle were questioned after an informed consent interview regarding surgical orthodontic treatment.


RESULTS
Esthetics were more frequently and functional problems were less frequently recalled as the reason for operation than was expected. The risk of a change in the sensation of the lower lip by surgery was frequently recalled as a reason to refrain from the operation. The overall recall rate of the possible risks and complications of orthodontic surgery was 40%.


CONCLUSIONS
No reports were found of comparable research on the preoperative recall after consultation before surgical orthodontic surgery. The aspects of communication that can improve recall must be clarified. A recall rate of 100% seems a utopia, although an arbitrary line is needed to determine the quality of an informed consent interview.
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Pathology, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam and VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Sander
S
Brons
Alfred G
AG
Becking
D Bram
DB
Tuinzing
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000523:psychology*; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D063173:Retrognathia / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult