Improving the orthodontic consent process: Amending hospital policy and implementing change

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Law and Ethics
• Dental and Oral Health
• Clinical Auditing

Background:

• Patient consent is a critical ethical and legal issue in healthcare, emphasized by significant legal cases.
• Orthodontic treatment carries inherent risks, with professional guidelines available, yet consent processes are often dictated by non-clinical policies.
• Clinician input is vital for refining consent procedures to ensure they are effective and patient-centered.

Purpose of the Study:

• To audit the consistency of patient consent forms used in orthodontic treatment.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of a revised, procedure-specific orthodontic consent form.
• To improve the patient consent process in orthodontic departments.

Main Methods:

• A two-cycle, multi-centre audit was conducted in two orthodontic departments.
• The first audit cycle informed changes to hospital policy and the development of a new consent form.
• The second audit cycle assessed the impact of the new consent form, incorporating clinician feedback.

Main Results:

• Initial audit identified inconsistencies in existing consent forms.
• Implementation of a new procedure-specific orthodontic consent form led to improvements.
• The revised form facilitated a more streamlined consent process and enhanced patient understanding of treatment risks.

Conclusions:

• Procedure-specific consent forms are essential for ensuring comprehensive patient information in orthodontics.
• Clinician involvement in developing consent policies improves the process and patient outcomes.
• The revised consent process enhances patient understanding and streamlines clinical practice.