Knowledge and associated factors of patients towards informed consent in obstetric and gynecologic surgical procedures at Debre Markos Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia

Knowledge and associated factors of patients towards informed consent in obstetric and gynecologic surgical procedures at Debre Markos Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia

Addisu Andualem Ferede, Mamaru Getie Fetene, Endinew Beka, Worku Taye Getahun, Aysheshim Asnake Abneh

Frontiers of Surery: Obstetrics and Gynecological Surgery, 7 May 2025

Abstract

Background

Informed consent is a principle in medical ethics that a patient must have adequate information and understanding before making decisions about their medical care. It is essential for both clinicians and patients in surgery and should be seen as a usual activity. Knowledge is one of the main intervention tools to improve patient comprehension in informed consent of surgical patients. In Ethiopia, little is known about the knowledge level and its determinant towards obstetric and gynecologic surgical informed consent. Due to this reason, this study aimed to assess the level of knowledge and determinants of surgical informed consent among patients undergone obstetric and gynecologic surgery at Debre Markos Comprehensive Specialized Hospital.

Methods

An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from November 28 to December 30, 2023, among 298 post-operative women admitted to Debre Markos Comprehensive Specialized Hospital. Data were collected using a pretested structured interviewer-administered questionnaire using a systematic random sampling technique. The collected data were entered into Epi-Data version 4.6 and then exported to SPSS statistical software version 25 for analysis. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was employed to estimate the effect of independent variables on the outcome variable. An adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% Confidence interval was computed to report the presence of association between the dependent and independent variables. Statistical significance was determined at a P-value of <0.05.

Results

A total of 298 women participated in the study. The overall good knowledge of women regarding obstetrical and gynecologic surgical informed consent was 42.3% (95%CI: 36.7, 47.9). Urban residence (AOR= 2.32, 95%CI: 1.08, 5.03), educational status of women (AOR= 4.85, 95%CI: 1.99, 11.78), elective type of surgery AOR= 1.8, 95%CI: 1.14, 4.07), and having previous history of surgery (AOR= 7.2, 95%CI: 4.02, 15.15) were the identified determinant factors affecting knowledge of women towards obstetric and gynecologic surgical informed consent.

Conclusion

More than half of the study participants lack overall good knowledge regarding obstetrical and gynecologic surgical informed consent. Residence, educational status, schedule of surgery, and previous history of surgery were the identified determinant factors affecting the knowledge of women towards obstetric and gynecologic surgical informed consent.