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Changes in surgical consent practices for common otolaryngology procedures: impact of Modernising Medical Careers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 March 2010

P Puwanarajah  and
S E McDonald
P Puwanarajah
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, and the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK
S E McDonald*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, and the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Mr S E McDonald, Specialist Registrar in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Southmead Hospital, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol BS10 5NB, UK. E-mail: stevemcdonald001@hotmail.com
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Abstract

Objectives:

To assess elective surgery consent practices amongst senior house officers from a selection of UK ENT departments, and to compare results with similar surveys in 2002 and 2005.

Methods:

A telephone survey of senior house officers in 40 UK ENT departments was conducted to assess departmental consent policies and knowledge of complications of common ENT operations.

Results:

A total of 77.5 per cent of responding senior house officers were responsible for consenting, reduced from 92.5 per cent in 2002 (p = 0.06). There had been a significant improvement in the use of patient information sheets, from 25 per cent of departments in 2002 to 65 per cent in 2008 (p = 0.0002). There had been no improvement in training or in the use of standard National Health Service consent forms, and the senior house officers' knowledge of specific complications remained poor. Of the senior house officers surveyed, 37.5 per cent were foundation trainees.

Conclusions:

There has been some improvement in information delivery to patients during the consent process, in accordance with General Medical Council, Department of Health and Modernising Medical Careers guidelines. However, most senior house officers are still required to obtain patient consent without appropriate training.

Keywords

Informed ConsentConsent FormsEthics, MedicalOtolaryngologyPostoperative ComplicationsSurgical Procedures, OperativeRisk FactorsQuestionnairesModernising Medical Careers
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 124 , Issue 8 , August 2010 , pp. 899 - 904
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2010

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References

1 General Medical Council. Consent: Patients and Doctors Making Decisions Together. London: General Medical Council, 2008Google Scholar
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