title: A descriptive study of consent documentation.
abstract: The aim of this study was to observe the error rate in the consent process of a university hospital and to illicit the opinions of the consenting doctors on the process. A prospective observational review of theatre consent forms was performed along with an anonymous survey of non-consultant hospital doctors (NCHD's). No potential risks were documented in 95.3% of the 64 scrutinized consents and late alterations were required in 9%. Respondents to the NCHD survey estimated that they were unsure of the procedure or risks involved in an average of 29% of occasions. Interns admitted to being unsure of the details of the procedure in almost a third (32%) of cases, making them less well informed than their senior colleagues (p=0.024). This study highlights the difficulties encountered by consenting doctors, an issue which may lead to patient dissatisfaction, threaten the efficient running of a surgical unit and potentially expose its staff to avoidable litigation. It also recommends the use of multimedia adjuncts to facilitate both patient and doctor education in the consent process.
authors: Cork University Hospital, Wilton, Cork. thekpm@gmail.com
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Murphy
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Shafiq
authors: M A
authors: MA
authors: Corrigan
authors: H P
authors: HP
authors: Redmond
mesh_terms: D004282:Documentation / Q000592:standards*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D007396:Internship and Residency; D007494:Ireland; D019212:Multimedia; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires