Comprehension and conduct of physicians when acquiring informed consent for chemotherapy.
- Author:
Se Won KIM
1
;
Bong Kyun KANG
;
Gun Min PARK
;
Suk Jae HAHN
;
Eung Joong KIM
;
Do Yeun KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, Korea. smdkdy@duih.org
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Chemotherapy;
Informed consent
- MeSH:
Comprehension;
Consent Forms;
Surveys and Questionnaires;
Electronic Health Records;
Electronics;
Electrons;
Humans;
Incidence;
Informed Consent;
Retrospective Studies
- From:Korean Journal of Medicine
2010;78(5):610-615
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Given that the use of chemotherapy has increased, together with the incidence of cancer, the importance of patient autonomy in decision-making is being emphasized. This study aimed to promote understanding of informed consent by analyzing doctors' perceptions of, and conduct during, the acquisition of written informed consent before chemotherapy. METHODS: Forty-eight doctors directing or performing chemotherapy were surveyed in August 2009. In addition, the electronic medical records of patients who underwent chemotherapy between August 1, 2008, and August 31, 2009, were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: All 48 respondents replied that acquiring informed consent was necessary before chemotherapy, but only 27 (56.3%) were aware of the format of the consent that had been obtained. Regarding the format of informed consent, 34 (70.8%) felt that it should be brief and 21 (43.8%) indicated that the time they spent in acquiring informed consent ranged from 10 to 14 minutes. Reviewing actual performance in acquiring informed consent, only 22 (15.6%) out of 141 patients who underwent chemotherapy had written informed consent documents in their electronic medical records. CONCLUSIONS: To properly acquire informed consent for chemotherapy, its meaning and importance must be understood by both physicians and patients. Moreover, patients need a standardized format of appropriate length for informed consent, with easily understood terms.
