Awareness on consent and counselling among patients attending tertiary care hospitals : a cross-sectional study
S. Rao, P. Sagar, B. V. S. R. Kumari
Sri Lanka Journal of Surgery, 31 March 2022
Abstract
Introduction
Surgical consent and counselling are an integral part of medical practice and medical education. This study was done to know how many of the residents provide complete and accurate information to the patient during their training period.
Methods
Sixty residents from various surgical departments and 40 patients who were undergoing surgery were selected. The data was collected through interviews using two different questionnaires. The resident’s questionnaire provided the information they provide to patients. The patient’s questionnaire provided information on the level of their understanding from the interaction. Data were analysed using coGuide.
Results
Out of 60 residents, 56(92 %) reported that the side effects and consequences were explained fully. 25% of residents mentioned the name of the surgery and nearly 100% did not mention the operating surgeon’s or unit in charge name. About 79% of residents felt that the patient was convinced with their way of communication, nearly 93 % of patients were convinced their disease process was explained well and 50% felt that the doctor informed the consequences of surgery well. 75% responded that doctor did not inform about the side-effects 98% were not aware of the alternative forms of treatment and, 87% of patients were not informed about the chances of recurrence of disease where ever applicable.
Conclusion
The majority of residents were convinced that their conveying skills are adequate for surgical counselling but they felt the need to improve. The majority of patients denied discussing complications when occurred.

Toolkit for the management of breast implants and the importance of Informed educated consent
Editorial
Anand K Deva, Mark Ashton
Australasian Journal of Plastic Surgery, 31 March 2022; 5(1)
Open Access
Abstract
Breast implants have had a long and chequered history of periodic regulatory activity and class actions and are associated with significant medium and long term health risks, including the development breast implant associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL). NSW Health through the Agency of Clinical Innovation has just released a toolkit for the management of breast implants. These are the result of collaborative clinical consensus across leaders in plastic and reconstructive surgery, breast surgery and radiology with support from the Surgical Services Taskforce and evidence directorate of the agency. Input was also sought from health consumers to ensure that the language and structure of the information was both comprehensive and accessible to women who were either considering either cosmetic augmentation or reconstruction and/or have breast implants in place.

Patient Satisfaction with Informed Consent for Cesarean and Operative Vaginal Delivery
Karen S. Levy, Martha K. Smith, Meagan Lacroix, Mark H. Yudin
Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada, 29 March 2022
Abstract
Objective
To evaluate patient satisfaction with the informed consent process for elective cesarean delivery (CD), emergency CD, and operative vaginal delivery (OVD).
Methods
A cross-sectional, survey-based study was conducted among patients on the postpartum floor of our institution. Patients were approached after delivery to complete a previously pilot-tested questionnaire, based on validated literature. One hundred eighty-four surveys were included in the analysis. Levels of patient satisfaction were compared across modes of delivery using χ2 tests of independence. Secondary objectives included evaluating the relationship between satisfaction scores and the patient’s recall of the consent process and emotional state during the consent process.
Results
A significant association was found between patient satisfaction with the consent process and mode of delivery (P < 0.001). Those in the elective and emergency CD groups were significantly more likely to express high rates of satisfaction compared with those in the OVD group (odds ratio [OR] 9.03; 95% CI 2.80–29.10 and OR 3.97; 95% CI 1.34–11.76, respectively). High levels of satisfaction were significantly more common among those who had greater recall of the consent process (OR 25.2; 95% CI 7.34–87.04) and those who reported low levels of distress during the process (OR 15.1; 95% CI 4.70–48.66).
Conclusion
Informed consent during OVD is associated with lower rates of patient satisfaction compared with CD. Efforts are needed to improve the consent process for OVD to increase patient satisfaction and promote patient-centred care.

The Consent Process for Elective Hip and Knee Arthroplasty: Does Information on Handwritten Forms Meet Prescribed Standards?
Anirudh Sharma, Osasumwen Adelowo, Santosh Bindumadhavan, Naufal Ahmed, Amir-Reza Jenabzadeh
Cureus, 28 March 2022; 14(3)
Abstract
Introduction
The process of informed consent is vital, not only to good clinical practice and patient care, but also to avoid negligence and malpractice claims. Elective hip and knee arthroplasty numbers are increasing globally, and the British Orthopaedic Association (BOA) has endorsed standards for obtaining written consent for these procedures. Many centres in the United Kingdom and globally, use handwritten consent forms to document informed consent, leaving open the potential for missing out important procedure and risk-related information. Our study aimed to assess whether information on handwritten consent forms was compliant with BOA standards for elective arthroplasty of the hip and knee.
Methods
We retrospectively reviewed 70 handwritten consent forms, across theatre lists of 12 arthroplasty consultants at our elective arthroplasty centre. These included 35 forms each for hip and knee arthroplasty respectively. We compared the information on these forms to the standards prescribed by the BOA. We assessed compliance of the forms with common, less common and rare risks of hip and knee replacement, as described by the BOA. We also noted the designation of the person filling out the form (consultant, registrar or nurse practitioner) and whether this affected information on the form. We assessed the forms for legibility issues, and whether the setting (clinic/pre-operative ward) affected information on the form.
Results
None of the 70 forms reviewed achieved full compliance with BOA standards. When assessed for common risks of hip and knee arthroplasty, the number of compliant forms was 25.7% and 42.8%, respectively. None of the forms mentioned all rare risks of either hip or knee arthroplasty. We identified legibility issues in 12 of 70 (17.1%) forms. There was no significant difference in information written on forms filled out by consultants, registrars or nurse practitioners, or between forms filled out in the clinic versus those on the pre-operative ward.
Conclusion
Handwritten forms lack compliance with prescribed standards for written informed consent in elective hip and knee arthroplasty. Ideally, a pre-written consent form should be used, but with the option of adding information individually tailored to the patients’ background. This ensures that good clinical practice is optimally followed, and reduces the potential risk of any litigation.

Informed Consent is Poorly Documented when Obtaining Toxicology Testing at Delivery in a Massachusetts Cohort
Kathleen J.Koenigs, Joseph H. Chou, Samuel Cohen, Moira Nolan, Gina Liu, Mishka Terplan, Brian M. Cummings, Timothy Nielsen, Nicole A. Smith, Joseph Distefano, Sarah N. Bernstein, Davida M. Schiff
American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology MFM, 27 March 2022
Abstract
Background
Positive toxicology testing at delivery can have enormous consequences for birthing persons and their families, including charges of child abuse/neglect and potential loss of custody for the birthing parent. State and national guidelines therefore stipulate clinicians should obtain consent prior to toxicology testing at delivery.
Objective
We examined: (1) clinician documentation of patient consent for peripartum toxicology testing and (2) the extent to which patient and hospital characteristics were associated with documented consent.
Study Design
Retrospective cohort of individuals who underwent toxicology testing within 96 hours of delivery between April 2016 and April 2020 at five affiliated hospitals across Massachusetts. Medical records were reviewed for documentation of: clinician intent to obtain maternal toxicology, testing indication, verbal consent to testing, and child protective services involvement. Hierarchical multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the association between patient and hospital characteristics and documentation of verbal consent.
Results
Among 60,718 deliveries, 1562 maternal toxicology tests were obtained. Verbal consent for testing was documented in 29.8% of cases (n=466). Documented consent was lacking across most demographic groups. Consent was no more likely to be documented when a report was filed with child protective services, and less likely in cases where the birthing parent lost custody prior to discharge (p=.003). In our multivariable model, consent was least likely to be documented when a maternal complication (abruption, hypertension, preterm labor, preterm premature rupture of membranes, intrauterine fetal demise) was the indication for testing (aOR, 0.46; CI, 0.28 to 0.76). Verbal consent was twice as likely to be documented in delivery hospitals with established consent policies (aOR, 2.10; CI, 1.01 to 4.37).
Conclusion
Consent for toxicology testing at delivery appears to be infrequently obtained based on clinician documentation. Provider education and hospital policies for obtaining informed consent are needed to protect the rights of birthing individuals.