Barnett A T, Crandon I, Lindo J F, Gordon-Strachan G, Robinson D, Ranglin D
Division of Anaesthesia, Department of Surgery, Radiology, Anaesthesia & Intensive Care, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica.
J Med Ethics. 2008 May;34(5):344-7. doi: 10.1136/jme.2007.020388.
To assess the adequacy of the process of informed consent for surgical patients at the University Hospital of the West Indies.
The study is a prospective, cross-sectional, descriptive study. 210 patients at the University Hospital of the West Indies were interviewed using a standardised investigator-administered questionnaire, developed by the authors, after obtaining witnessed, informed consent for participation in the study. Data were analysed using SPSS V.12 for Windows.
Of the patients, 39.4% were male. Of the surgical procedures, 68.6% were scheduled, 7.6% urgent and 23.8% emergency, 35.2% were minor and 64.8% major. Information imparted/received was acceptable in 40% of cases, good in 24% and inadequate (unacceptable) in 36% of cases. Almost all (97.6%) patients stated that they understood why an operation was planned and 93.3% thought that they had given informed consent. Most (95.2%) thought that they had free choice and made up their own mind. A quarter (25.2%) of all patients were told that it was mandatory for them to sign the form. There was a discussion of possible side effects and complications in 56.7% of patients.
This study clearly indicates that surgical patients at the University Hospital of the West Indies feel that they have given informed consent. However, it also suggests that more information should be given to patients for consent to be truly informed.
评估西印度群岛大学医院外科患者的知情同意过程是否充分。
本研究为前瞻性、横断面描述性研究。在获得参与研究的见证知情同意后，使用作者编制的标准化调查员管理问卷对西印度群岛大学医院的210名患者进行访谈。数据采用SPSS V.12 for Windows进行分析。
患者中39.4%为男性。手术程序中，68.6%为择期手术，7.6%为紧急手术，23.8%为急诊手术，35.2%为小手术，64.8%为大手术。40%的病例中信息传递/接收情况可接受，24%良好，36%不足（不可接受）。几乎所有（97.6%）患者表示他们理解为何计划进行手术，93.3%认为他们已给出知情同意。大多数（95.2%）认为他们有自由选择权并自行做出决定。所有患者中有四分之一（25.2%）被告知签署表格是强制性的。56.7%的患者讨论了可能的副作用和并发症。
本研究清楚表明，西印度群岛大学医院的外科患者感觉他们已给出知情同意。然而，这也表明应向患者提供更多信息，以使同意真正知情。
