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 .
Patients' perceptions of written consent: questionnaire study
Abstract Objective To examine patients ' underst and ing of the status , function , and remit of written consent to surgery . Design Prospect i ve question naire study . Question naires were sent to patients within one month of surgery . Responses were analysed with frequencies and single variable analyses . Setting Large teaching hospital . Participants 732 patients who had undergone surgery in obstetrics and gynaecology over a six month period . Main outcome measures Patients ' awareness of the legal implication s of written consent and their views on the function and remit of the consent form .  Results Patients had limited underst and ing of the legal st and ing of written consent . Nearly half ( 46 % , 95 % confidence interval 43 % to 50 % ) of patients believed the primary function of consent forms  was to protect hospitals and 68 % ( 65 % to 71 % ) thought consent forms allowed doctors to assume control . Only 41 % ( 37 % to 44 % ) of patients believed consent forms made their wishes known . Conclusions Many patients seem to have limited awareness of the legal implication s of signing or not signing consent forms , and they do not recognise written consent as primarily serving their interests . Current consent procedures seem inadequate as a means for the expression of autonomous choice , and their ethical st and ing and credibility can be called into question
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 .