We prospectively enrolled a consecutive cohort of patients presenting to a general surgery clinic for possible cholecystectomy or inguinal herniorrhaphy from October 2009 to August 2010. We administered questionnaires before and after the clinic visit.
Seventy-five patients completed pre-visit questionnaires. After evaluation by the surgeon, 42 patients were offered surgery and documented their informed consent using iMedConsent, of whom 38 (90%) also completed a post-visit questionnaire. Among the participants who completed both pre- and post-visit questionnaires, participant comprehension of procedure-specific risks benefits and alternatives improved from 50%at baseline to 60%after the clinic visit (P < 0.001). No differences were noted in ambivalence, trust, or anxiety. After the clinic visit, significantly more patients expressed a preference for participating in decision making with their surgeon (98%versus 71%, P = 0.008). However, significantly fewer expressed a preference for knowing all possible details about their illness (25%to 83%, P 鈮?0.001).
The informed consent process using iMedConsent improves patient comprehension of procedure-specific risks, benefits, and alternatives. It also increases patient preferences for participating more actively in the decision-making process. However, the process may provide more detail than patients want regarding their illness.