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Effectiveness of consenting in Otorhinolaryngology

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Central European Journal of Medicine

Abstract

Informed consent in today’s medical practice has become a cornerstone and a routine ethical component playing a major role in forming a therapeutic alliance with the patient. The present study sought to analyse the effectiveness of the consent forms and the consenting process in Otorhinolaryngology. This three month questionnaire-based study covered varying operations which ranged from tonsillectomies, grommet insertions to pharyngeal pouch stapling. Twenty-nine percent of consent forms were signed on the day of the operation. Of the patients who received leaflets (51%) during the process of informed consent, a majority (88%) found it useful. The respondents were satisfied with the explanation of the procedure, benefits and complications (70–74%). Majority kept their consent forms at home (60%) and did not bother engaging in further search with regards to the information in the consent form (81%). Majority of the patients agreed that they had enough time to make an informed consent. Patients were satisfied with the consent process but more can be done to improve the consenting process.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otolaryngology, Frimley Park Hospital, Portsmouth Road, Frimley, Surrey, GU16 7UJ, UK

    Nnaemeka C. E. Okpala

  2. Department of Surgery, Central General Hospital, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana

    Amala M. J. Okpala

  3. Department of Otolaryngology, Poole General Hospital, Longfleet Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 2JB, UK

    Gareth John & Hugh Cox

Authors
  1. Nnaemeka C. E. Okpala
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  2. Amala M. J. Okpala
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  3. Gareth John
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  4. Hugh Cox
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Correspondence to Nnaemeka C. E. Okpala.

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Okpala, N.C.E., Okpala, A.M.J., John, G. et al. Effectiveness of consenting in Otorhinolaryngology. cent.eur.j.med 7, 198–202 (2012). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11536-011-0131-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s11536-011-0131-0

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