Patients' comprehension and satisfaction with informed consent at day surgery unit at King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Informed Consent (IC) is a crucial element in medical practice and research. However, additional research is needed to assess the quality of IC in Middle Eastern regions, including Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to measure surgical patients' comprehension and satisfaction with IC and related factors at King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH). Methods: This cross-sectional study investigated postsurgical patients' satisfaction and comprehension of IC at the day surgery unit at KKUH from August to December 2022. Data collection was done through an online questionnaire. Results: A total of 387 patients participated in this study, with over half (56.1%) being women (mean age = 41.4 ± 13.4). More than 88% of the patients were satisfied with all IC components. Patients aged 26-45 reported the highest levels of IC understanding (54.9%, p < 0.05), and female patients demonstrated higher overall comprehension compared to male patients (p = 0.088). Those with higher education and income had the highest comprehension scores (61.2%, p < 0.05) and (28.4%, p < 0.05), respectively. Only 54% of patients read the IC form and were aware of who provided them with the forms. Approximately 92% of the patients signed the IC form themselves, and 72% required less than an hour to consent. Conclusion: Middle-aged patients, women, and those with a high level of education exhibited the highest overall IC comprehension and satisfaction. The findings underscore the importance of personnel delivering therapy introducing themselves and indicating their involvement in the team. The future of the IC process lies in electronic standardization through the use of \"Esihi,\" KKUH's current electronic record system.