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 .
The effect of information level and coping style on pain and anxiety in needle liver biopsy.
Biopsy of the liver is an important diagnostic procedure . The procedure is invasive and may be painful for patients . Sedative drugs are not used because the associated drop in blood pressure mimics hemorrhage , a major complication of the procedure . Cognitive and behavioural techniques have been used to decrease stress in patients undergoing other medical procedures . In the present study , it is postulated that providing procedural and sensory information may reduce patient anxiety levels . Patient coping styles were evaluated and anxiety and pain levels were assessed by using a visual analogue scale .  Subjects were r and omly assigned to one of two groups . The control group received basic information about the procedure . The experimental group received the same basic information followed by more detailed educational information . Subjects also filled out the Krantz Health Opinion Survey  , a short question naire used to classify coping styles as either information-seeking or information-avoiding . Seventy-five subjects ( 38 control and 37 experimental ) with similar demographics were included in the present study . No significant differences were found in anxiety levels or pain levels 30 min and 6 h post-biopsy . There was also no significant difference between groups once coping style was added into the analysis . The study failed to show any advantage in providing additional information to subjects before liver biopsy , regardless of coping style
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 .