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 .
Applying decision analysis to facilitate informed decision making about prenatal diagnosis for Down syndrome: a randomised controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE To evaluate decision analysis as a technique to facilitate women 's decision-making about prenatal diagnosis for Down syndrome using measures of effective decision-making . DESIGN R and omised controlled trial in a UK hospital 's prenatal diagnosis clinic . INTERVENTION Routine versus routine consultation structured by decision analysis . PARTICIPANTS 117/132 women receiving a screen-positive maternal serum screening result participated ( 58 routine , 59 decision analysis ) . METHODS Consultations were audio tape-recorded , transcribed and coded ; question naires were completed after the consultation and one month later after receipt of a diagnostic test and /or the 19-week scan result . MAIN MEASURES Test decision , subjective expected utilities , knowledge , informed decision-making , risk perception , decisional conflict , anxiety , perceived usefulness and directiveness of consultation information . RESULTS 48/59 in the decision-aided group and 47/58 in the routine group underwent prenatal diagnosis . Informed decision-making was higher , perceived risk more realistic and decisional conflict over time lower in the decision analysis group . Decision analysis had no impact on knowledge or SEU scores , and was no more or no less directive , useful or anxiety provoking than the routine care . Consultations were six minutes longer . CONCLUSIONS Decision analysis consultations enable women to make more informed prenatal diagnosis decisions . Professionals will need training to use this technique effectively
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 .