Checklist-based Training Improves Consenting Skills Among Radiology Residents

Abstract

This study aimed to demonstrate whether a curriculum based on an informed consent conversation checklist led to improvement in a resident's ability to obtain patient centered and legally sound consent. In this prospective, IRB approved study, Radiology residents from a single institution were asked to obtain informed consent for an imaging study or image-guided procedure from a standardized patient (SP). Encounters were scored by an attending radiologist on a 20-point checklist as well as by the SPs on four consent related questions. Residents were then provided reading material, a lecture, and a consent checklist pocket card. Residents participated in a post-intervention SP encounter. Wilcoxon Signed-Ranks Test was performed to determine if there was a significant improvement in scores after intervention. Twenty-one residents completed all aspects of the program. There was statistically significant improvement in consenting skills as measured by the attending scores and the SP scores after receiving formal education. Pre-intervention scores had a mean of 9.29 of 20 (SD 1.39), while post-intervention scores had a mean of 16.95 of 20 (SD 1.83). 95.2% (20/21) of residents found the training useful and stated they would recommend it to future trainees. Checklist-based consent training improved radiology residents' ability to obtain informed consent.