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 .
Parental Desire for Perioperative Information and Informed Consent: A Two-Phase Study
The purpose of this investigation was to identify the perioperative anesthetic information parents want from the anesthesiologist , and to determine whether the provision of detailed anesthetic risk information is associated with increased  parental anxiety . The investigation consisted of a cross-sectional study followed by a r and omized controlled trial . In Phase 1 , baseline and situational anxiety , coping strategy , and temperament were obtained from parents of children undergoing surgery ( n = 334 ) . A question naire examining the desire for perioperative information was administered to all parents . In Phase 2 , 47 parents were r and omly assigned to receive either routine anesthetic risk information ( control ) or detailed anesthetic risk information ( intervention ) . The effect of the intervention on parental anxiety was assessed over four time points : prior to the intervention , immediately after the intervention , day of surgery in the holding area , and at separation to the operating room . For Phase 1 , the majority of parents ( > 95 % ) preferred to have comprehensive information concerning their child 's perioperative period , including information about all possible complications . For selected items , increased parental educational level was associated with increased desire for information ( P < 0.05 ) . For Phase 2 , when the intervention group was compared with the control group , there were no significant differences in parental anxiety over the four time points [ F(1,45 ) = 0.6 , P = 0.4 ] . Also , the interaction between time and group assignment was not significant [ F(3,135 ) = 1.66 , P = 0.18 ] . We conclude that parents of children undergoing surgery desire comprehensive perioperative information . Moreover , when provided with highly detailed anesthetic risk information , the parental anxiety level did not increase . ( Anesth Analg 1997;84:299 - 306
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 .