Changing practices in the consent process for nose and throat procedures: a three-year study

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Practice
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Informed consent is a cornerstone of ethical medical practice.
• Previous studies highlighted variability in consent practices among junior surgical staff.
• Ensuring adequate patient understanding of surgical risks is crucial for patient safety and legal compliance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate current practices for obtaining informed consent for elective surgery among UK senior house officers (SHOs) in Otolaryngology (ENT).
• To compare these practices with data from a similar survey conducted in 2002.
• To identify areas of improvement in SHO training regarding consent procedures and complication awareness.

Main Methods:

• A telephone survey was conducted with SHOs across 40 UK ENT departments.
• The survey assessed departmental policies on informed consent.
• SHOs' knowledge of potential complications associated with common ENT procedures was evaluated.

Main Results:

• Over 80% of surveyed SHOs were responsible for obtaining consent for routine surgeries.
• A significant increase was observed since 2002 in departments using the Department of Health model consent form, providing patient information leaflets, and having established informed consent protocols.
• SHOs' knowledge regarding specific surgical complications remained inadequate.

Conclusions:

• While there has been a modest improvement in informed consent practices aligned with General Medical Council guidelines, SHOs continue to bear significant responsibility for this process.
• The majority of SHOs receive insufficient training in obtaining informed consent, highlighting a persistent gap in their preparedness.
• Further enhancements in training programs are necessary to ensure comprehensive understanding and effective communication of surgical risks to patients.