Conocimiento, implementación y opinión acerca del consentimiento informado por escrito de las enfermeras de atención primaria: proyecto piloto CONOSER

Abstract

ObjectiveTo know the knowledge, implementation and opinion on informed consent of generalist nurses, specialists and primary care residents. DesignDescriptive cross-sectional study using an online self-administered ‘ad hoc’ questionnaire. SettingPrimary care nurses in Madrid, from November 2020 to March 2021. ParticipantsSample of 114 nurses: 91 generalist, 20 specialists and 3 residents. Main measurementsSociodemographics, knowledge, implementation and opinion. ResultsThe response rate was 27.7%. As a general rule, 48.2% indicated that informed consent was collected verbally, as established by law, with differences being found between categories, this percentage being higher in specialists and residents (P=0.004), and within specialists in those who had obtained their speciality by internal resident nurse (IRN) (P<0.0001). In addition, specialists and residents were those who most identified the legal norm regulating informed consent (P<0.0001). In terms of implementation and opinion, all groups obtained similar results. DiscussionThere are no previous studies that have analysed these aspects of informed consent comparing the different categories. Studies from other healthcare and geographical areas show that nurses have greater knowledge, although the demand for specific training in bioethics and biolaw is greater in the nurses participating in this study. ConclusionsNurses have adequate knowledge about informed consent, use it in clinical practice and have an appropriate conception of it, being higher in some items in specialist nurses IRN and in residents.