Perception on Informed Consent Regarding Nursing Care Practices in a Tertiary Care Center

Area of Science:

• Nursing Care Practices
• Patient Autonomy
• Informed Consent

Background:

• Informed consent is crucial for patient rights and autonomous decision-making in healthcare.
• Adequate information empowers patients, while poor communication can compromise health quality.
• Understanding patient perceptions of informed consent is vital for improving care standards.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate hospitalized patients' perceptions of informed consent concerning nursing care.
• To identify factors influencing patient views on informed consent in a tertiary care setting.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 113 admitted patients at Dhulikhel Hospital, Nepal.
• Purposive non-probability sampling was used for patients hospitalized for at least three days.
• A structured questionnaire assessed perceptions of information giving, decision-making opportunities, and prior consent.

Main Results:

• 71.6% of patients reported positive perceptions regarding informed consent in nursing care.
• Positive perceptions were noted for information giving (mean 3.43), decision-making opportunities (mean 2.88), and prior consent (mean 3.65).
• Nurse communication skills significantly impacted patient perception (p<0.05), unlike age, education, or prior hospitalization (p>0.05).

Conclusions:

• The majority of patients hold positive views on informed consent in nursing care.
• Nurses' communication skills are a key determinant of patient perception, irrespective of demographic factors.
• Enhancing nurse communication can strengthen the informed consent process and patient satisfaction.