Pilot study using an Internet-based program in informed consent

To examine the effect of an internet-based aid to informed consent on parent recall of potential surgical complications.

Parents of children scheduled for elective inguinal hernia repair were assigned to a control group or were enrolled in an internet-based program designed to aid in the consent process. Nine potential surgical complications were presented to the parent(s) in the consent discussion and in the Internet program. Parent recall of potential surgical complications was assessed immediately after the consent discussion and on the day of surgery.

Overall recall of complications was poor in both groups, both immediately and on the day of surgery. Parents in the control group (n = 13) recalled a mean of 2.9 complications immediately and 1.5 on the day of surgery, approaching statistical significance (P = .056). The parents in the internet program group (n = 17) recalled a mean of 2.6 complications immediately and 2.9 on the day of surgery (P = NS). There was no significant difference in immediate recall between the two groups, but there was a trend towards statistically significant improvement in recall in the study group the day of surgery vs. controls (P = .06).

Although overall recall of potential surgical complications was poor in both groups, there was a trend towards a significant improvement in recall in the study group after viewing the Internet-based program.