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 .
How do doctors explain randomised clinical trials to their patients?
As part of a larger study design ed to improve doctor-patient communication in r and omised clinical trials ( RCT ) , we audiotaped the discussion s between doctor and patient in which consent was being obtained for a RCT . This paper reports on 82 discussion s conducted by 5 clinical oncologists in both District General and University Hospital outpatient departments . When introducing the subject of trials , uncertainty about treatment decisions was expressed by the doctors in the majority of cases ( 79 , 96.3 % ) . This was most often stated in a general sense ( 78 , 95.1 % ) , but some mentioned personal uncertainty ( 12 , 14.6 % ) , an approach which helps to maintain a trusting doctor-patient relationship . The word r and omization was mentioned in 51 ( 62.2 % ) consultations , although the process itself was usually described implicitly ( 78 , 95.1 % ) , e.g. by telling the patient that they would be allocated either one or other treatment . Analogies were used in 28 ( 34.1 % ) cases to describe the r and omisation process . In addition , although treatments and side-effects were described frequently , ( 68 , 82.9 % ) and ( 72 , 87.8 % ) respectively , information leaflets about the trials were not given to 23 ( 28 % ) patients . The study shows that U.K. clinicians adopt individual methods when providing information and eliciting consent to trials
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 .