Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 20, 2026
07:48
Working with Human Tissues for Translational Cancer Research
Published on: November 26, 2015
Informed consent: how much and what do patients understand?
Matthew E Falagas1, Ioanna P Korbila, Konstantina P Giannopoulou
1Alfa Institute of Biomedical Sciences (AIBS), Athens, Greece. m.falagas@aibs.gr
American Journal of Surgery
|September 1, 2009
Summary
Patients often lack understanding of informed consent for surgery and clinical research. Enhancing patient comprehension of study details and risks is crucial for ethical medical practice.
Area of Science:
- Medical Ethics
- Patient Comprehension
- Informed Consent
Background:
- Informed consent is a cornerstone of ethical medical practice.
- Ensuring patients fully understand surgical procedures and clinical research is vital.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate patient understanding of key elements within the informed consent process for both surgery and clinical research.
- To identify areas where patient comprehension may be deficient.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature search of PubMed (1961-2006) was performed.
- Articles focusing on informed consent for surgery and clinical research were identified and reviewed.
Main Results:
- Studies showed low rates of adequate understanding of surgical information (29%) and risks (36%).
- Patient understanding of clinical research components, including study aims and randomization, varied (44-57%).
- Satisfaction with information provided was higher in clinical research (80%) than surgery (58%) studies.
Conclusions:
- Significant attention is needed to improve patient understanding of informed consent for surgical and research contexts.
- Educational strategies should be developed to enhance comprehension of risks, benefits, and procedural details.
More Related Videos
06:28E-Patient Counseling Trial (E-PACO): Computer Based Education versus Nurse Counseling for Patients to Prepare for Colonoscopy
Published on: August 1, 2019
08:42A Familiarization Protocol Facilitates the Participation of Children with ASD in Electrophysiological Research
Published on: July 31, 2017
Related Concept Videos
01:27Nurses' Legal Responsibilities I
In healthcare, informed consent is a crucial process that involves thoroughly communicating medical treatment options to patients, including benefits, risks, potential side effects, and alternatives. This process enables patients to make well-informed decisions about their care, ensuring they understand the implications of their choices before consenting to or refusing treatment.
The legal responsibilities of a nurse regarding informed consent include the following:
The legal responsibilities of a nurse regarding informed consent include the following:
01:27Nursing Ethical Principles II
Ethical principles are essential in guiding nurses to fulfill their responsibilities, focusing on the quality of nursing care and decision-making. These principles, including autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, and fidelity, shape the ethical framework within healthcare settings.
Consider the following scenario, which illustrates how these principles are applied in the care of Mr. John, a fifty-year-old teacher diagnosed with metastatic liver cancer.
Initially, Mr. John's cancer...
Consider the following scenario, which illustrates how these principles are applied in the care of Mr. John, a fifty-year-old teacher diagnosed with metastatic liver cancer.
Initially, Mr. John's cancer...
01:23Ethical Standards II
Ethical standards are the backbone of nursing practice, guiding nurses as they interact with patients, families, and colleagues. These standards are crucial for providing safe, empathetic care centered on the patient's needs.
Nurses are entrusted with upholding various ethical principles and standards. Nurses forge solid therapeutic relationships using trust, empathy, autonomy, confidentiality, and professional competence.
Confidentiality is crucial, embodying respect for individual privacy and...
Nurses are entrusted with upholding various ethical principles and standards. Nurses forge solid therapeutic relationships using trust, empathy, autonomy, confidentiality, and professional competence.
Confidentiality is crucial, embodying respect for individual privacy and...
01:56Ethics in Research
Today, scientists agree that good research is ethical in nature and is guided by a basic respect for human dignity and safety. However, this has not always been the case. Modern researchers must demonstrate that the research they perform is ethically sound.
01:25Ethical Standards I
The American Nurses Association (ANA) created and implemented the first nationally accepted Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements. The Code of Ethics is a living document regularly updated by the ANA and establishes an ethical standard that is non-negotiable for nurses in all roles and settings.
The Code of Ethics provisions outline the nurse's duty to the patient, the healthcare team, the profession, and society. The Code's fundamental principles include advocacy,...
The Code of Ethics provisions outline the nurse's duty to the patient, the healthcare team, the profession, and society. The Code's fundamental principles include advocacy,...
01:15Bioavailability Study Design: Healthy Subjects Versus Patients
Bioavailability studies are essential for evaluating a drug's therapeutic efficacy and understanding its absorption patterns under various physiological conditions. Conducting such studies on target patient populations provides more relevant data by simulating real-world disease states. However, practical challenges often necessitate the use of young, healthy adult volunteers as study subjects.Patients may exhibit altered drug absorption patterns due to the effects of the disease itself,...