title: Patients' recall and perceptions regarding consent to blood transfusion at Universitas Academic Hospital, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
abstract: We studied the recall and perceptions of transfused patients at a single centre. Fifty-three patients were included. In 11 (20.8%) cases, no written informed consent document could be traced. Four patients who had informed consent documents in their records had no recollection of the consent process. Approximately 11% of patients stated that the consent process was performed using unfamiliar terms. When compared to Caucasian and mixed race respondents, more African respondents (83%) would have preferred the presence of a family member (p < 0.01). Although not all the patients experienced the informed consent positively, it did not impact on their perception of the blood transfusion itself.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa. Electronic address: claire.armour.barrett@gmail.com.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Barrett
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Joubert
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
authors.forename: V P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Griffiths
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ebersohn
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Joubert
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Haematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
authors.forename: V J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Louw
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Haematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Webb
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044383:Black People; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D032962:Consent Forms; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010358:Patient Participation; D013019:South Africa; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044465:White People