A comparison of the views of patients and medical staff in relation to the process of informed consent

Abstract

Introduction: The quality and quantity of information required in the consent process is well documented, but there is little extant literature regarding timing of either information about the proposed procedure or the act of consent itselt. With the recent introduction of a new NHS-wide consent form, we wished to determine the preferences of both patients and staff to ascertain whether any concordance of views existed. Patients and methods: A 10-point questionnaire, developed in conjunction with the department of clinical psychology was completed by 242 patients selected for surgery over a 4-month period. Identical questionnaires were completed by local staff (n = 50) and national consultant plastic surgeons (n = 56). Results: The cumulative majority (61.8%) preferred information at the specialist out-patient appointment (OPA). There was a significant difference (P < 0.001) between patients and staff as to information provision by the specialist as comparerd to non-specialists; staff indicating it much more strongly. As to the timing of consent form signature, 40.2% preferred signature on admission with no statistically significant difference between subgroups. An additional pre-operative clinic, for consent form signing, was selected by 27.3%. Staff expressed this view more often than patients (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Patients prefer information about a planned surgical procedure at their specialist OPA and final consent for surgery when admitted to the ward. Staff had quite definite views and felt an additional pre-operative out-patient appointment to be beneficial, more so than the patients themselves.