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 .
Extended preoperative patient education using a multimedia DVD—impact on patients receiving a laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a randomised controlled trial
Purpose The informed consent is a legal requirement prior to surgery and should be based on an extensive preoperative interview . Multimedia productions can therefore be utilised as supporting tool . In a prospect i ve r and omised trial , we evaluated the impact of an extended education on patients undergoing cholecystectomy . Material s and methods For extended patient information , a professionally built DVD was used . After r and omisation to either the DVD or the control group , patients were informed with or without additional presentation of the DVD . The quality of education was evaluated using a purpose -built question naire . Results One hundred fourteen patients were included in the DVD and 98 in the control group .  Patient characteristics did not differ significantly despite a higher educational level in the DVD group . The score of correctly answered questions was higher in the DVD group ( 19.88 vs. 17.58 points , p < 0.001 ) . As subgroup analysis revealed , particular patient characteristics additionally impacted on results . Conclusion Patients should be informed the most extensively prior to any surgical procedure . Multimedia productions therefore offer a suitable instrument . In the presented study , we could prove the positive impact of an information DVD on patients knowledge . Nevertheless , multimedia tools can not replace personal interaction and should only be used to support daily work
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 .