254 An Audit to Assess the Completion of Consent Forms in the Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics

Abstract

Abstract Aim The objective was to audit how well the consent forms were being completed by junior doctors and registrars in the orthopaedic ward. This helped to assess whether the consent forms before orthopaedic procedures were being filled out according to the standards stated in the RCS and NICE guidelines. Method The initial audit was carried out in January 2020 in the three orthopaedic surgery wards at the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham. Cross sectional data was collected by checking the consent forms to assess whether the important headings and sub-headings were filled out legibly with adequate information. Results All consent forms filled up in the study sample had the patient details and the name of the surgery written completely and accurately. 75.6% of the forms had the name of the Responsible Health Professional written, while the remaining had left the space blank or wrote an incorrect name. More than 90% of the forms had the intended benefit, and the possible risks of the orthopaedic operation written in the most suitable format. The likelihood of a blood transfusion being required was filled out in 78.6% of the forms. All consent forms were signed by a doctor, however, only 53% of the doctors provided both their name in print and contact number in the consent form. Conclusions Consent is an essential prerequisite for any operative procedure. By detecting the parts of the consent form that were frequently filled out inadequately, awareness was raised about the possible legal consequences of it.