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 for total hip arthroplasty: does a written information sheet improve recall by patients?
OBJECTIVE To ascertain whether a written information sheet is acceptable to patients and improves recall of the consent interview . DESIGN Prospect i ve r and omised controlled study using question naires , comparing a group of patients given information in a written sheet with appropriate explanation to a group given verbal information alone . SETTING A specialist orthopaedic surgery unit . PATIENTS The test group was 126 patients undergoing revision or primary total hip arthroplasty ; 65 patients were given information verbally , 61 patients were given written information .  OUTCOME MEASURE Patients ' recall of information given , tested with a question naire completed on admission ( mean of 18 days later ) . RESULTS The patients receiving written information scored significantly higher ( 48 % correct answers ) than the patients receiving verbal information ( 38 % correct answers ) . CONCLUSIONS Written information sheets contribute to the process of informed consent . As patients ' recall of information is generally poor , the sheets may also be useful medicolegally , as a permanent record of what was discussed
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 .