Digital approach to informed consent in bariatric surgery: a randomized controlled trial

Area of Science:

• Bariatric Surgery
• Medical Education
• Informed Consent

Background:

• Informed consent is crucial in surgery, with digital media offering potential to enhance patient comprehension.
• Standard verbal consent (SVC) may not fully convey complex surgical information.
• Digital educational platforms (DEP) can supplement traditional consent processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a DEP combined with SVC versus SVC alone for laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB).
• To assess effects on patient knowledge, satisfaction, and consent appointment duration.
• To determine if digital tools improve understanding of LRYGB risks and benefits.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, non-blinded randomized controlled trial involving 51 LRYGB candidates.
• Intervention group received DEP + SVC; control group received SVC only.
• Data collected on post-consent knowledge, retention, satisfaction, and consent duration.

Main Results:

• The DEP+SVC group showed significantly higher post-consent knowledge (p=0.01).
• Consent duration was significantly shorter in the DEP+SVC group (p<0.01), with over 50% time savings.
• No significant differences were observed in knowledge retention or patient satisfaction.

Conclusions:

• Integrating a DEP with SVC enhances patient understanding of LRYGB risks and benefits.
• DEP significantly reduces the time required for informed consent discussions.
• This digital approach offers an efficient method to improve surgical consent processes.