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 .
Use of evidence based leaflets to promote informed choice in maternity care: randomised controlled trial in everyday practice
Abstract Objective : To assess the effect of leaflets on promoting informed choice in women using maternity services . Design : Cluster trial , with maternity units r and omised to use  leaflets  ( intervention units ) or offer usual care ( control units ) . Data collected through postal question naires . Setting : 13 maternity units in Wales . Participants : Four separate sample s of women using maternity services . Antenatal sample s : women reaching 28 weeks ' gestation before ( n=1386 ) and after ( n=1778 ) the intervention . Postnatal sample s : women at eight weeks after delivery before ( n=1741 ) and after ( n=1547 ) the intervention . Intervention : Provision of 10 pairs of Informed Choice leaflets for service users and midwives and a training session for staff in their use . Main outcome measures : Change in the proportion of women who reported exercising informed choice . Secondary outcomes : changes in women 's knowledge ; satisfaction with information , choice , and discussion ; and possible consequences of informed choice . Results : There was no change in the proportion of women who reported that they exercised informed choice in the intervention units compared with the control units for either antenatal or postnatal women . There was a small increase in satisfaction with information in the antenatal sample s in the intervention units compared with the control units ( odds ratio 1.40 , 95 % confidence interval 1.05 to 1.88 ) . Only three quarters of women in the intervention units reported being given at least one of the leaflets , indicating problems with the implementation of the intervention . Conclusion : In everyday practice , evidence based leaflets were not effective in promoting informed choice in women using maternity services
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 .