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 .
Patient comprehension of an interactive, computer-based information program for cardiac catheterization: a comparison with standard information.
BACKGROUND Several studies suggest that st and ard verbal and written consent information for treatment is often poorly understood by patients and their families . The present study examines the effect of an interactive computer-based information program on patients ' underst and ing of cardiac catheterization .  METHODS Adult patients scheduled to undergo diagnostic cardiac catheterization ( n = 135 ) were r and omized to receive details about the procedure using either st and ard institutional verbal and written information ( SI ) or interactive computerized information ( ICI ) preloaded on a laptop computer .  Underst and ing was measured using semistructured interviews at baseline ( ie , before information was given ) , immediately following cardiac catheterization ( early underst and ing ) , and 2 weeks after the procedure ( late underst and ing ) . The primary study outcome was the change from baseline to early underst and ing between groups . RESULTS Subjects r and omized to the ICI intervention had significantly greater improvement in underst and ing compared with those who received the SI ( net change , 0.81 ; 95 % confidence interval , 0.01 - 1.6 ) . Significantly more subjects in the ICI group had complete underst and ing of the risks of cardiac catheterization ( 53.6 % vs 23.1 % ) ( P = .001 ) and options for treatment ( 63.2 % vs 46.2 % ) ( P = .048 ) compared with the SI group . Several predictors of improved underst and ing were identified , including baseline knowledge ( P < .001 ) , younger age ( P = .002 ) , and use of the ICI ( P = .003 ) . CONCLUSIONS Results suggest that an interactive computer-based information program for cardiac catheterization may be more effective in improving patient underst and ing than conventional written consent information . This technology , therefore , holds promise as a means of presenting underst and able detailed information regarding a variety of medical treatments and procedures
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 .