We have identified efforts by research ers to investigate interventions which seek to improve information delivery and consideration of information to enhance  informed consent .
The interventions used consistently improve patient knowledge , an important prerequisite for informed consent .
This is encouraging and these measures could be widely employed although we are not able to say with confidence which types of interventions are preferable .
Our results should be interpreted with caution due to the high levels of heterogeneity associated with many of the main analyses although we believe there is broad evidence of beneficial outcomes for patients with the pragmatic application of interventions .
BACKGROUND Achieving informed consent is a core clinical procedure and is required before any surgical or invasive procedure is undertaken .
However , it is a complex process which requires patients be provided with information which they can underst and and retain , opportunity to consider their options , and to be able to express their opinions and ask questions .
There is evidence that at present some patients undergo procedures without informed consent being achieved .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects on patients , clinicians and the healthcare system of interventions to promote informed consent for patients undergoing surgical and other invasive healthcare treatments and procedures .
AUTHORS ' CONCLUSIONS Informed consent is an important ethical and practical part of patient care .
A randomized trial using videotape to present consent information for colonoscopy.
A r and omized controlled trial was conducted to determine if a videotaped presentation by a physician conveys information more effectively than an in-person discussion by the same physician using the identical script . Two hundred one patients undergoing colonoscopy were enrolled in the study . Patients were r and omly assigned to one of three groups : video plus discussion , video alone , and discussion alone . A vali date d , 13-item knowledge test and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were administered to all patients . Mean number of correct test answers for video plus discussion was 11.04 ; for video alone , 10.70 ; and for discussion alone , 9.61 . ANOVA with planned orthogonal comparisons showed that the patients in the two video groups had significantly better scores ( p < 0.001 ) than those in the discussion -only group . No difference was noted between the two video groups ( p = 0.32 ) . Anxiety did not increase with increased underst and ing of the risks and benefits of colonoscopy . This approach may work as well for other invasive medical procedures and could save physician time while laying a foundation for a more personalized discussion
We have identified efforts by research ers to investigate interventions which seek to improve information delivery and consideration of information to enhance  informed consent .
The interventions used consistently improve patient knowledge , an important prerequisite for informed consent .
This is encouraging and these measures could be widely employed although we are not able to say with confidence which types of interventions are preferable .
Our results should be interpreted with caution due to the high levels of heterogeneity associated with many of the main analyses although we believe there is broad evidence of beneficial outcomes for patients with the pragmatic application of interventions .
BACKGROUND Achieving informed consent is a core clinical procedure and is required before any surgical or invasive procedure is undertaken .
However , it is a complex process which requires patients be provided with information which they can underst and and retain , opportunity to consider their options , and to be able to express their opinions and ask questions .
There is evidence that at present some patients undergo procedures without informed consent being achieved .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects on patients , clinicians and the healthcare system of interventions to promote informed consent for patients undergoing surgical and other invasive healthcare treatments and procedures .
AUTHORS ' CONCLUSIONS Informed consent is an important ethical and practical part of patient care .