Nursing Roles in the Quality of Information in Informed Consent Forms of a Spanish County Hospital
José Manuel García-Álvarez, Alfonso García-Sánchez
Nursing Reports, 4 January 2024; 14(1) pp 89-98
Abstract
Background
Because of their direct and continuous contact with the patient, nurses play a relevant role in ensuring that informed consent forms are complete and easy to read and comprehend. The objective of this study was to analyze the legibility and formal quality of informed consent forms for non-surgical procedures in a county hospital.
Methods
The readability of these forms was analyzed using the INFLESZ scale and the information they provided according to the formal quality criteria established for these forms.
Results
Readability was difficult in 78.08% of the forms analyzed. No form fulfilled all the criteria, the most non-compliant being the non-appearance of the verification of delivery of a copy to the patient (100%), the contraindications (94.59%), and the alternatives (83.78%) of the procedure. Statistically significant differences were observed between disciplines with respect to the INFLESZ readability score and the formal quality score, but no statistically significant correlation was found between the two scores.
Conclusions
The informed consent forms for non-surgical procedures analyzed presented mostly difficult readability and poor formal quality, making it difficult for patients to have understandable and complete information. Nursing professionals should be actively involved in their improvement to facilitate patient decision making.

A Pilot Study On The Global Practice On Informed Consent In Paediatric Dentistry
Original Research
Nicoline Potgieter, Gemma Bridge, Marlies Elfrink, Morenike O. Folayan, Sherry Shiqian Gao,  Sonia Groisman, Ashwin Jawdekar, Arthur M. Kemoli, David Lim, Phuong Ly, Shani Mani, Ray M. Masumo, Joana Monteiro, Majorie K. Muasya, Ambrina Qureshi, Norman Tinanoff
Frontiers in Oral Health, 2024
Abstract
Background
Conducting oral treatment early in the disease course is encouraged for better health outcomes. Obtaining informed consent is an essential part of medical practice, protecting the legal rights of patients and guiding the ethical practice of medicine. In practice, consent means different things in different contexts. Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) and Silver Fluoride (SF) are becoming popular and cost-effective methods to manage carious lesions, however, cause black discolouration of lesions treated. Obtaining informed consent and assent is crucial for any dental treatment and has specific relevance with SDF/ SF treatments.
Methods
The aim of this paper is to describe informed consent regulations for dental care in a selection of countries, focusing on children and patients with special healthcare needs. An online survey was shared with a convenience sample of dental professionals from 13 countries. The information was explored and the processes of consent were compared.
Results
Findings suggest that there are variations in terms of informed consent for medical practice. In Tanzania, South Africa, India, Kenya, Malaysia and Brazil age is the determining factor for competence and the ability to give self-consent. In other countries, other factors are considered alongside age. For example, in Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States the principle of Gillick Competence is applied. Many countries’ laws and regulations do not specify when a dentist may overrule general consent to act in the “best interest” of the patient.
Conclusion
It is recommended that it is clarified globally when a dentist may act in the “best interest” of the patient, and that guidance is produced to indicate what constitutes a dental emergency. The insights gathered provide insights on international practice of obtaining informed consent and to identify areas for change, to more efficient and ethical treatment for children and patients with special needs. A larger follow up study is recommended to include more or all countries.

Implementing co-production to enhance patient safety: the introduction of the Patient Safety Consent tool, an example of a simple local solution to a common challenge
Abdulelah Alhawsawi, David Greenfield
International Journal for Quality in Health Care, 28 December 2023
Abstract
Zero harm is one of the priorities that all healthcare systems are aspiring for. However, more than two decades after ‘To Err is Human’ report, many systems are struggling to identify or implement strategies to achieve this important goal. One of the very powerful, yet underutilized strategies towards transforming patient safety and achieving Zero Harm is ‘co–production’. Co-production of health is defined as ‘the interdependent work of users and professionals who are creating, designing, producing, delivering, assessing, and evaluating the relationships and actions that contribute to the health of individuals and populations’. Simply put, co-production means that patients contribute alongside professionals to the provision of health services. While we know the importance and potential value of co-production, many health systems are underutilizing the approach. Actions to effectively implement and sustain changes to service provision to use co-production are elusive. To realize improvements, a key requirement for health professionals is addressing the question: how can we implement and sustain co-production in efficient, effective ways? To address this challenge, and thereby improve patient safety and work towards zero harm, we introduce the ‘Patient Safety Consent’ (PSC) tool, a simple co-production tool to empower patients and families to become more active members in their own healthcare. Implementing the co-production of care, requires a shift in the traditional attitudes and power dynamics between healthcare professionals and patients. Professionals explicitly share service information, diagnosis assessments, treatment options, decision-making and involve patients and their families in determining the direction and actions for their care; conversely, patients and families take on an active role in engaging in discussions, potential care pathways, and ongoing decisions about their treatment and care. Hence, the PSC tool is a direct, engaging, comprehensive and, where used effectively, a powerful strategy for changing the dynamics and outcomes of care…

Probability and informed consent
Book Chapter
Nir Ben-Moshe, Benjamin A. Levinstein, Jonathan Livengood
Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics, 8 August 2023 [Springer]
Abstract
In this paper, we illustrate some serious difficulties involved in conveying information about uncertain risks and securing informed consent for risky interventions in a clinical setting. We argue that in order to secure informed consent for a medical intervention, physicians often need to do more than report a bare, numerical probability value. When probabilities are given, securing informed consent generally requires communicating how probability expressions are to be interpreted and communicating something about the quality and quantity of the evidence for the probabilities reported. Patients may also require guidance on how probability claims may or may not be relevant to their decisions, and physicians should be ready to help patients understand these issues.