[Can anybody understand the informed consent documents? A proposal to make it easier]

Area of Science:

• Medical Ethics
• Health Literacy
• Patient Communication

Background:

• Informed consent is crucial for patient autonomy.
• Assessing the readability of informed consent documents is vital for effective patient comprehension.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the readability and section length of informed consent documents.
• To identify differences in readability between surgical and non-surgical services.
• To provide insights for improving informed consent document clarity.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive study analyzed 359 informed consent documents.
• Document length was measured in words; readability was assessed using the INFLESZ score.
• Statistical analysis identified significant differences in section length and readability.

Main Results:

• Documents had adequate length but poor readability (mean INFLESZ 45.8, only 12.5% > 55).
• Surgical service documents exhibited lower readability.
• Sections on 'contraindications' and 'alternatives' were shorter and less readable.

Conclusions:

• Informed consent documents require improved readability, especially from surgical services.
• Unbalanced section lengths negatively impact comprehension.
• Readability assessment tools are essential for developing clear informed consent documents.