Proportion of Patients Who Recognize the Complete Informations after Signing the Informed Consent for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy in a Hospital in Khon Kaen Province

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Patients have to receive the adequate information before making decision to permit the doctors to do any procedure. This study aimed to determine proportion of patients who recognize the complete information after signing the informed consent for gastrointestinal endoscopy and the factors associated with the completeness of the received information.

Methods: This was a descriptive study. The study population was the patients who had the appointments for gastrointestinal endoscopy in one hospital in Khon Kaen. Random samples of 155 patients were randomed by consecutive sampling and collected data by self-administered questionnaire.

Results: Percentage of patients who recognize the complete information after signing was 23.9 (95% CI : (11.6,31.5)). Percentage of patients informed about type, benefit and indications, adverse effect and complications, failure of procedure, alternative methods for diagnosis/treatment and necessity of emergency additional procedures accounted for 97.4, 92.9, 69.7, 54.8, 44.5 and 38.1, respectively. Factors associated with the completeness of the received information were female (p-value 0.009), level of education (Bachelor’s degree and more) (p-value 0.041) and incomplete information given by doctors before signing (p-value <0.001) that Odds ratio were 5.52, 3.62 and 0.02 respectively.

Conclusion: Only 23.9% of patients recognize the complete information after signing the informed consent before receiving procedure. So the doctors should realize that giving the complete information before patients sign the informed consent is important.