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 .
Informed consent and patient participation in the medical encounter: a list of questions for an informed choice about the type of anaesthesia.
The present study was undertaken to evaluate the impact of a new procedure for eliciting informed consent by patients undergoing minor surgical procedures , in which the choice between general anaesthesia ( GA ) and regional anaesthesia ( RA ) was possible . In this prospect i ve study , two r and omly selected groups of patients were compared : study group ( SG ) , 52 patients , received from the  nurse  before the preoperative interview , a list of seven questions , which they were invited to ask the anaesthetist ; while the control group ( CG ) , 73 patients , did not receive any suggested questions . There were two end points : the proportion that chose RA and the number of questions actually addressed to the doctor at the preanaesthetic interview . Psychological aspects were taken into account by collecting the Hospital Anxiety and Depression ( HAD ) scale before the preanaesthetic interview . Satisfaction with the interview was recorded using a telephone question naire 2 weeks after the operation . The results from the two groups were compared by calculating the odds ratio according to Mantel-Haenszel and by logistic analysis . Altogether , 71.2 % of the patients chose RA without any difference between the groups . The average number of questions asked by each SG patient was higher than for the CG ( 1.67 vs. 0.96 ) . The satisfaction level was similar in the two groups . Our list of questions was design ed to facilitate patient autonomy . It offered an aid to those requesting more information and assisted communication . The method did not change the proportion who chose a specific kind of anaesthesia , but does seem to improve patient participation in the decision-making process
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 .