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Informed consent for total hip arthroplasty: does a written information sheet improve recall by patients?
I J Langdon1, R Hardin, I D Learmonth
1University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Avon Orthopaedic Centre, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK. Ilana.Langdon@ruh-bath.swest.nhs.uk
Objective:
To ascertain whether a written information sheet is acceptable to patients and improves recall of the consent interview.
Design:
Prospective randomised controlled study using questionnaires, comparing a group of patients given information in a written sheet with appropriate explanation to a group given verbal information alone.
Setting:
A specialist orthopaedic surgery unit.
Patients:
The test group was 126 patients undergoing revision or primary total hip arthroplasty; 65 patients were given information verbally, 61 patients were given written information.
Outcome Measure:
Patients' recall of information given, tested with a questionnaire completed on admission (mean of 18 days later).
Results:
The patients receiving written information scored significantly higher (48% correct answers) than the patients receiving verbal information (38% correct answers).
Conclusions:
Written information sheets contribute to the process of informed consent. As patients' recall of information is generally poor, the sheets may also be useful medicolegally, as a permanent record of what was discussed.