Patients’ and Healthcare Professionals’ Perspectives on Preoperative Informed Consent Procedure Obstacles and Potential Solutions, 2021: A Qualitative Study

BACKGROUND: Informed consent discussions are individualized not only with regard to the patients’ surgical condition and goals but also with their varying information needs, health literacy, and anxiety. Information is lacking regarding the views of patients and concerned healthcare professionals on the informed consent process. OBJECTIVE: This study is aimed to explore patients’ and healthcare professionals’ perceived barriers during informed consent process and identify suggested solutions for improvement. METHODS: Patients who underwent elective surgery, anesthetists, and surgeons were the subjects of a qualitative study employing focused group discussions and in-depth interviews. The study participants were chosen through the use of purposeful sampling. RESULTS: The main barriers identified by the patients include: inadequate explanation about the intended procedure, family’s influence in the decision-making, fear of surgery, fear of light/power interruption, inadequate time for discussion, and not letting the family members attend the discussion. On the other hand, healthcare professionals also identified various barriers, which includes: inability of patients to understand the information, limited time to discuss with patients in detail, poorly designed informed consent form, poor awareness of patients, fear of patient refusal for surgery if the risks and associated health problems are explained, lack of adequate investigation to confidently explain about the disease condition, use of medical jargons, poor documentation habit of professionals and lack of legal system regarding ethical dilemmas. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATION: Patients and healthcare professionals have identified avoidable barriers that need the attention of concerned health professionals, educators, and the healthcare delivery system.