Using hyperrealistic simulations to improve digital informed consent for endourological procedures

To show that digital informed consent (DIC) improves the subjective understanding of information and, therefore, informed consent.

A nonblinded randomized controlled trial was performed in 84 patients who had undergone transurethral resection of bladder, transurethral resection of prostate, or ureterorenoscopy between July 2017 and March 2018. The DIC group watched a hyperrealistic simulation on a tablet device before surgery. After surgery and again 30 days later, both groups completed a validated questionnaire that measured subjective understanding, anxiety, and utility of and need for information.

The mean ± SD age of the participants was 68.7 ± 11.1 years. Nine of 84 patients (10.7%) did not complete the questionnaire. A total of 42 patients were allocated to the DIC group and 42 to the control group. The mean ± SD score for immediate subjective understanding in the DIC group was 14.5% higher than in the control group (72% ± 17.5% vs 57.5% ± 23.5%, respectively; P = 0.006). There was no statistical difference in anxiety, utility of and need for information relative to delayed subjective understanding. In subgroup analysis, subjective understanding scores were higher, but not significantly so, among patients with low and higher education levels in the DIC group than in the control group (68% ± 18.1% vs 54% ± 22.5% [P = 0.06] and 76% ± 18.3% vs and 66% ± 21.9%, respectively [P = 0.89]).

Hyperrealistic simulations improved subjective understanding of information and, therefore, informed consent for endourological procedures.