Patients’ satisfaction with the preoperative informed consent in elective gynecological surgery in a tertiary hospital, BMA

Patients’ satisfaction with the preoperative informed consent in elective gynecological surgery in a tertiary hospital, BMA
Thossaporn Chuaysatit, Apichaya Pradyachaipimol, Jiraporn Luengmettakul
Thai Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 18 December 2024
Abstract
Objectives
This study aimed to evaluate patients’ satisfaction with the preoperative informed consent process in elective gynecological surgery.
Materials and Methods
This cross-sectional study was conducted at Charoenkrung Pracharak Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand, from October 2023 to May 2024. Personal data and satisfaction with the preoperative informed consent process were collected on the second postoperative day. The Thai version of the Decisional Satisfaction Scale (DSS) was used to measure the satisfaction and the Informed Consent Process Questionnaire was used to assess knowledge of surgery and perception of informed consent process. Bivariate associations between highly satisfied and not highly satisfied groups were tested using Fisher’s exact test.
Results
A total of 178 participants were enrolled, with mean age of 42.48 years. Most participants agreed or strongly agreed with the statements on the DSS, a mean total score was 27.87, indicating high overall satisfaction. 135 patients (75.8%) were highly satisfied with the informed consent process. There were several factors with significant differences between the highly satisfied group and not highly satisfied group. These included being informed about the consequences of not undergoing the procedure, knowing enough about the procedure to explain it, being informed about the reasons for prolonged urine catheterization and being given the opportunity to refuse the procedure.
Conclusion
This study highlights the critical role of an effective informed consent process in elective gynecological surgery. High   patient satisfaction is achieved when communication and patient participation are prioritized. Future research should explore these dynamics in different settings and diverse populations.