The document summarizes a study that assessed patient perspectives on informed consent practices for surgery. 103 postoperative patients at PIMS/SZABMU completed a questionnaire about their consent process. The results showed significant deficiencies: only 8.73% reported complications were explained, 2.91% reported anesthesia complications explained, and 65.04% reported not understanding the information. While 86.4% were satisfied, most consent was given by others and not the patient. The authors conclude significant inadequacy exists in current informed consent practices and that practices need revising to make the process more informed.

1. Informed Consent for Surgery:
Do our current practices conform
to the accepted standards?
Presenter Dr Muhammad Saaiq
FCPS(Surgery), FCPS(Plastic Surgery),
Authors:
Dr Bushra Ashraf, Prof Nasira Tasnim, M. Saaiq, Prof KhaleeqUz Zaman
PIMS, Islamabad.

2. “Every adult of sound mind has a right to
determine what shall be done to his body”

3. Informed Consent is a permission for a
medical or surgical procedure given by an
individual who:
Has received all the necessary INFORMATION.
Is COMPETENT.
Has UNDERSTOOD the information.
Has given the permission VOULUNTARILY.

4. What information?What information?
Diagnosis
Nature of the proposed treatment
Associated risks
Likely benefits
Alternatives

5. What Prompted Our Study?What Prompted Our Study?

6. Objective: To determine the pattern of existing practices
regarding informed consent for surgery (in the patients’
perspectives) to identify deficiencies in practices as viewed by the
patients themselves
Study Design: Cross sectional qualitative investigation.
Place of the Study: PIMS/SZABMU.
Duration of the Study: Two months.
Subjects and Methods: 103 adult postoperative patients who
had undergone surgical interventions in various surgical
wards constituted the study participants. .
Data Collection Instrument : Questionnaire With the help of
four doctors.
Methodology
Authors: Bushra Ashraf, Nasira Tasnim, Saaiq M, Zaman KU.

7. The Questionnaire
1. The planned surgery, its nature and benefits were explained.
2. Potential complications of surgery were explained
3. The type of anesthesia was discussed.
4. The possible complications of anesthesia were explained.
5. I understood the information given to me
6. I did not understand the consent but agreed as I trusted the doctors
7. I know that consent has legal value
8. I am satisfied with the consent process
9. Who took the consent?
10. Who gave the consent?

8. Variables with Number
of patients
Percentage
1 GENDER:
Male 64
Female 39
62.13%
37.86%
2 AGE:
Up to 40 years 59
>40 years 44
57.28%
42.71%
3 EDUCATIONAL STATUS:
Un-educated 79
Educated 24
76.69%
23.30%
4 MARITAL STATUS:
Married 74
Un-married 29
71.84%
28.15%
5 OCCUPATION:
House Wives 28
Students 16
Others 59
27.18%
15.53%
57.28%
6 MODE OF SURGERY:
Elective 66
Emergency 37
64.07%
35.92%
7 MODE OF ANESTHESIA:
General anesthesia 69
Spinal anesthesia 25
Local anesthesia 9
66.99%
24.27%
8.73%
Table: Demographic profile of the participants.(n=103)

9. The planned surgery, its nature
and benefits were explained?
Yes
No
79
24
0
20
40
60
80
Response

10. Potential complications of surgery were
explained ?
Yes
No
9
94
0
20
40
60
80
100
Response

11. The type of anesthesia was
discussed ?
93
10
0 20 40 60 80 100
Yes
No
Response

12. The possible complications of
anesthesia were explained ?
3
100
0 20 40 60 80 100
Yes
No
Response

13. I understood the information
given to me ?
Yes
35%
No
65%

14. I did not understand the consent but
agreed as I trusted the doctors ?
Yes
57%
No
43%

15. I know that consent has legal
value ?
11
92
0
20
40
60
80
100
Yes No
Response

16. I am satisfied with the process
of consent?
Yes
86%
No
14%

17. Who took the consent?
Staff nurse
58%
Junior Drs
42%

18. Who gave the consent?
Self
26%
Others
74%

19. Questions Responses/ Percentage P-value
(%)
1 The planned surgery, its nature and
benefits were explained
Yes 79(76.69%) No 24(23.30%) <0.000*
2 Potential complications of surgery
were explained
Yes 9(8.73%) No 94(91.26%) <0.000*
3 The type of anesthesia was
discussed.
Yes 93(90.29%) No 10(9.70%) <0.000*
4 The possible complications of anesthesia
were explained
Yes 3(2.91%) No 100(97.08%) <0.000*
5 I understood the information given
to me
Yes 36(34.95%) No 67(65.04%) <0.000*
6 I know that consent has legal value Yes 11(10.67%) No 92(89.32%) <0.000*
7 I did not understand the consent but
consented as I trusted the doctors
Yes 59(57.28%)
Unanswered 44(42.71%)
0.0421*
8 I am satisfied with the consent
process
Yes 89(86.40%) No 14(13.59%) <0.000*
9 Who took the consent? Staff Nurse 60(58.25%)
Junior doctors 43(41.74%)
<0.001*
10 Who gave the consent? Self 27(26.21%)
Others 76(73.78%)
<0.000*
Table: Results summarized. (n=103)

20. o Significant inadequacy existed in the
prevailing practices regarding consent for
surgery.
o There is need to revisit the consent related
practices and make the process more informed
and adequate.
o Our doctors should not take it as a casual
formality but regard it as an equally important
exercise equivalent to other components of care
such as the surgery itself.
Conclusions