A Procedure-Specific Consent Sticker as an Educational Tool to Improve Informed Consent Documentation by Junior...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Training
• Patient Consent

Background:

• Informed consent is crucial in surgical procedures.
• Inadequate documentation of consent poses medico-legal risks.
• Junior surgical clinicians require structured training for consent competency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate baseline consent documentation for laparoscopic appendicectomy against national standards.
• To assess the impact of a procedure-specific consent sticker and targeted training on documentation completeness.
• To identify areas for improvement in surgical consent processes.

Main Methods:

• A before-and-after interventional educational study was conducted.
• A multicomponent intervention included a consent sticker, education sessions, and posters.
• Data were collected from junior surgical trainees before and after the intervention.

Main Results:

• Baseline documentation had critical deficiencies for risks like death and adhesions.
• The intervention significantly improved documentation, especially for previously deficient areas (e.g., Meckel's diverticulectomy, death).
• Complete documentation was achieved in cases where the consent sticker was utilized.

Conclusions:

• A procedure-specific consent sticker and targeted education enhance consent documentation completeness.
• This intervention addresses a recognized training gap in surgical education.
• The approach offers a scalable, low-cost model for improving consent competency.