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 .
Educational intervention for women undergoing image-guided breast biopsy: results of a randomized clinical trial.
BACKGROUND The process of informed consent has been examined for patients undergoing various procedures but not breast biopsy . Our study was a r and omized trial that examined the effect of an educational flip chart as part of the informed consent . METHODS A total of 122 patients referred for stereotactic or ultrasound-guided core breast biopsy  were r and omly assigned to receive an informed consent discussion with or without an illustrated flip chart . The chart included information about breast anatomy , pathology , and diagnostic procedures . Outcome measures included objective knowledge , subjective knowledge , anxiety , and satisfaction . RESULTS Analysis showed few significant main effects of the intervention . However , results showed interactions between experimental condition and race/ethnicity , indicating that the intervention was effective in enhancing objective and subjective knowledge for African American but not Caucasian patients . Anxiety after consultation was higher among patients assigned to the flip chart condition , possibly because they were better informed about the risks of the procedure . Patients who underwent biopsy sooner after learning they needed one were more satisfied with their care . CONCLUSIONS The usual care consent process is effective for many but not all patients . Informed consent that employs visual aids may help overcome characteristics of the consent process that are ineffective for some patients
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 .