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 .
Forewarned is forearmed--benefits of preparatory information on video cassette for patients receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy--a randomised controlled trial.
A series of UK and European audits have revealed that a high proportion of patients remain dissatisfied with the information they received following a diagnosis of cancer . Additional educational aids are often required to facilitate the consent process , and our previous work showed a high level of acceptability for video-directed information for this purpose . In this study a multidisciplinary team of health professionals worked with patients , a documentary film company and experienced television personalities to produce an information film . The aim of this study was to assess the benefits of receiving a cassette to take home following the first consultation and this was evaluated in a r and omised multicentre controlled study among 220 patients receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy over a 6-month period . There was a significant correlation between satisfaction and reduced treatment-related anxiety overall . In the video group , the mean Hospital Anxiety and Depression ( HAD ) anxiety score was significantly lower during treatment compared with the non-video group ( 4.6+/-3.7 ( range : 0 - 18 ) versus 7.4+/-5.2 ( range : 0 - 20 ) , Chi square test P=0.001 ) . Likewise , the mean HAD depression scores were also significantly lower in the patients prepared for the side-effects of treatment with the video ( 2.9+/-2.9 ( range : 0 - 13 ) versus 5.3+/-4.7 ( range : 0 - 21 ) Chi square test P=0.001 ) . 81 % felt the video was helpful , only 5 % of patients felt this extra information was worrying . Well design ed video cassettes should be regarded as a useful additional information strategy , within routine oncology practice
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 .