Patient Recall of Information on a Third Molar Informed Consent Video

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Patient Communication
• Surgical Consent

Background:

• Malpractice cases frequently involve claims of inadequate information during informed consent.
• Assessing patient recall of informed consent materials is crucial for improving patient understanding and reducing litigation risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate immediate recall of information presented in an informed consent video.
• To assess recall of informed consent video content after a time lapse before surgery.

Main Methods:

• Prospective cohort study involving 100 patients undergoing impacted third molar removal (academic and private settings).
• Patients viewed an informed consent video, followed by doctor consultation and consent form signing.
• A 10-item test administered immediately after the video and again before surgery to measure recall.

Main Results:

• A statistically significant difference in correct responses was observed between immediate and delayed testing (P=.0212).
• Significant differences in recall were also noted between academic and private practice settings (P=.0076).
• Recall performance was not significantly associated with patient age, gender, or the duration between testing intervals.

Conclusions:

• Patients demonstrate good initial recall of information presented in informed consent videos.
• Some information is invariably forgotten, underscoring the need for a presurgical review.
• Reinforcing informed consent information before surgery can enhance patient comprehension and potentially mitigate malpractice claims.