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Informed consent practice for obstetric and gynaecologic procedures: A patients' perspective from a developing country
Author(s) -
Zeeshan Muhammad F.,
Yousufi Zainab,
Khan Durdana,
Malik Farhat R.,
Ashfaq Fizza,
Batool Fatima,
Atta Lyaba,
Tariq Hira,
Huma Zille,
Ghafoor Rahat,
Jamil Ayisha,
Qazi Umair
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of evaluation in clinical practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.737
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1365-2753
pISSN - 1356-1294
DOI - 10.1111/jep.13106
Subject(s) - informed consent , medicine , odds , family medicine , private practice , odds ratio , perspective (graphical) , cross sectional study , parental consent , recall , alternative medicine , psychology , logistic regression , pathology , artificial intelligence , computer science , cognitive psychology
Abstract Objectives To assess the surgical informed consent (SIC) practices for obstetric and gynaecological (OB‐GYN) procedures at different hospitals in Pakistan. Methods Study was conducted in five hospitals (three public and two private) of Peshawar, Pakistan. A pretested structured tablet‐based questionnaire was administered from October 2016 through January 2017 among post‐op OB‐GYN patients. Results About 27% of the patients (significantly more in private hospitals, P = 0.001) did not remember a formal consent administration. Most patients (80%) felt they had no choice about signing the consent. About 65% (mostly in public as compared with private hospitals) mentioned that they would have signed it regardless of the specifics in it ( P < 0.001). Patients had increased odds to recall consent if they felt empowered, odds ratio (OR) = 4.5; had an opportunity to ask questions, OR = 7.2; wanted more explanation, OR = 2.8; and had consent administered in their mother tongue, OR = 6.9. Discussion Patients' recall of key elements of consent was low. The time spent with the patient for consenting was much shorter than recommended. The printed consent forms were mostly not available in patients' mother tongue. Conclusions Consent practice for OB‐GYN procedures was suboptimal in studied hospitals. Patients' attitude toward informed consent practices largely reflected providers' focus on obtaining a legally valid signed consent as opposed to administering a consent that empowers patients to make an informed decision in the absence of any external pressure.