title: Informed consent in colonoscopy: A comparative analysis of 2 methods.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The manner in which informed consent is obtained varies. The aim of this study is to evaluate the level of knowledge about colonoscopy and comparing 2 methods of obtaining informed consent.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comparative, cross-sectional, observational study was conducted on patients that underwent colonoscopy in a public hospital (Group A) and in a private hospital (Group B). Group A received information verbally from a physician, as well as in the form of printed material, and Group B only received printed material. A telephone survey was carried out one or 2 weeks later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included a total of 176 subjects (group A [n=55] and group B [n=121]). As regards education level, 69.88% (n=123) of the patients had completed university education, 23.29% (n= 41) secondary level, 5.68% (n=10) primary level, and the remaining subjects (n=2) had not completed any level of education. All (100%) of the subjects knew the characteristics of the procedure, and 99.43% were aware of its benefits. A total of 97.7% received information about complications, 93.7% named some of them, and 25% (n=44) remembered major complications. All the subjects received, read, and signed the informed consent statement before the study. There were no differences between the groups with respect to knowledge of the characteristics and benefits of the procedure, or the receipt and reading of the consent form. Group B responded better in relation to complications (P=.0027) and group A had a better recollection of the major complications (P<.0001). Group A had a higher number of affirmative answers (P<.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of verbal and written information provides the patient with a more comprehensive level of knowledge about the procedure.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Gastroenterología y Endoscopia Salta, Salta, Argentina; Universidad Nacional de Salta, Salta, Argentina. Electronic address: sanguinetti.josema@gmail.com.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sanguinetti
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Gastroenterología y Endoscopia Salta, Salta, Argentina; Hospital Militar Salta, Salta, Argentina.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lotero Polesel
authors.affiliation: Hospital Militar Central, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Iriarte
authors.affiliation: Hospital Militar Central, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ledesma
authors.affiliation: GEDYT Gastroenterología Diagnóstica y Terapéutica, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Canseco Fuentes
authors.affiliation: GEDYT Gastroenterología Diagnóstica y Terapéutica, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Caro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003113:Colonoscopy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Calidad endoscópica; Colonoscopia; Colonoscopy; Consentimiento informado; Endoscopic quality; Informed consent