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 .
Randomised controlled trial comparing effectiveness of touch screen system with leaflet for providing women with information on prenatal tests.
Abstract Objective : To compare the effectiveness of touch screen system with information leaflet for providing women with information on prenatal tests . Design : R and omised controlled trial ; participants allocated to intervention group ( given access to touch screen and leaflet information ) or control group ( leaflet information only ) . Setting : Antenatal clinic in university teaching hospital . Subjects : 875 women booking antenatal care . Interventions : All participants received a leaflet providing information on prenatal tests . Women in the intervention arm also had access to touch screen information system in antenatal clinic . Main outcome measures : Women 's informed decision making on prenatal testing as measured by their uptake of and underst and ing of the purpose of specific tests ; their satisfaction with information provided ; and their levels of anxiety . Results : All women in the trial had a good baseline knowledge of prenatal tests . Women in the intervention group did not show any greater underst and ing of the purpose of the tests than control women . However , uptake of detailed anomaly scans was significantly higher in intervention group than the control group ( 94 % ( 351/375 ) v 87 % ( 310/358 ) , P=0.0014 ) . Levels of anxiety among nulliparous women in intervention group declined significantly over time ( P<0.001 ) . Conclusions : The touch screen seemed to convey no benefit over well prepared leaflets in improving underst and ing of prenatal tests among the pregnant women . It did , however , seem to reduce levels of anxiety and may be most effective for providing information to selected women who have a relevant adverse history or abnormal results from tests in their current pregnancy
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 .