From the Patient Perspective, Consent Forms Fall Short of Providing Information to Guide Decision Making

Area of Science:

• Health literacy
• Patient engagement
• Informed consent

Background:

• Informed consent is crucial for patient safety and shared decision-making.
• Current consent forms may present barriers to patient understanding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To gather patient perceptions of informed consent forms.
• To identify recommendations for improving form readability and utility.

Main Methods:

• Conducted 60 in-depth interviews with patients.
• Included literacy/numeracy assessment and comprehension quizzes.
• Utilized open-ended questions for feedback and suggestions.

Main Results:

• Many participants, even with higher education, struggled with comprehension.
• Patients suggested formatting changes, additional information sources, and clearer risk communication.
• Physician-patient conversations were highlighted as vital.

Conclusions:

• Patient feedback indicates consent forms are overly complex and ineffective.
• Future research should focus on patient-informed redesign and supplemental educational tools.
• Optimizing communication enhances healthcare decision-making and patient safety.