title: Quality and extent of informed consent for invasive procedures: a pilot study at the institutional level in Turkey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the quality of informed consent for patients undergoing invasive procedures and to reveal patient preferences for being informed about the potential risks of treatment and alternatives to treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was planned as a pilot study. Hospitalized patients' perceptions and expectations about the informed-consent process were explored in a general surgery department. The prepared questionnaire was completed by patients via interview.
  
  
  METHODS
  Inpatient services of the general surgery department of a large academic hospital in Istanbul, Turkey.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population consisted of hospitalized patients in a general surgery department who underwent invasive procedures in March 2013.
  
  
  METHODS
  Recognition of consent forms by the patients, rate of patients' recall of risks, rate of patients who were willing to be involved in decision making, and rate of patients who were satisfied with the whole decision-making process were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients signed consent forms. Most patients did not properly read the consent form since they trusted their physician. Potential exposure to risk seemed to be important for patient expectations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Paternalism seemed to dominate our clinical setting. The informed-consent process was definitely a separate issue from signing the consent forms. We conclude that the informed-consent process should be modified to be more functional and appropriate to human psychology. We suggest that education is necessary for informed consent to promote better quality and safety in health care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Ethics and History, Cerrahpaşa Medical School, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: H Hanzade
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Dogan
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Elif
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Işik
authors.affiliation: Cerrahpasa Medical School, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ezgi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vural
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, Cerrahpasa Medical School, and Child Health Institute, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hayriye
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vehid
authors.affiliation: Center for Clinical Quality and Safety, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Mayer
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brezis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000941:ethics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057240:Patient Preference; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative; D014421:Turkey; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Turkey; ethics; general surgery; informed consent; quality of health care