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Recommended Citation
Hicks A, Rowland C, Huffstetler C. Informed Consent: More Than Just Paperwork!. Quality Improvement poster presentation at Elevating Nursing Excellence: Purpose, Profession, Passion; Advocate Health Midwest Region Nursing Research & Professional Development Conference 2024; November 13, 2024; virtual.
Presentation Notes
Quality Improvement poster presentation at Elevating Nursing Excellence: Purpose, Profession, Passion; Advocate Health Midwest Region Nursing Research & Professional Development Conference 2024; November 13, 2024; virtual.
Abstract
Background
Informed consent protects the rights of patients and guides the ethical practice of clinicians. Patient satisfaction is related to the quality and adequacy of information provided to them (Guzman & Amosco, 2021). Informed consent policies are typically written around surgical procedures and often do not provide the unique details around the process in radiation oncology.
Local Problem
During the investigation of care events, the nursing director noted differing practices around timing, use of plain language, and a lack of a standardized approach to obtaining consent. A major contributing factor was consents were not obtained during the consult when the physician and nurse were present.
Purpose/Objective
The goal was to complete informed consent during the patient consult 75% of the time.
Method
The Plan-Do-Study-Act model was used as a framework. The director presented the information to the Nursing Practice Professional Governance Council and the Morehead Interprofessional Governance Council to review and identify inconsistencies. A new SOP was written that standardized practice. A competency was completed all RNs, RTTs, MDs, and APPs . Monthly audits were completed and shared along with data analysis to fine tune the process.
Results/Findings
The project demonstrated a significant improvement in the timing of the consents at all sites. In 2022, the average number of consents completed during consults was 52% while in 2023, the average was 91%, (p=0.0001), demonstrating statistically significant results. Patient safety measured a score of 9.87 out of 10, while the national database mean benchmark was 9.16
Conclusion
Ensuring adequate time for informed consent and creating a standardized process can improve patient safety and improve the patient experience.
Implications for Practice
Reviewing and improving the process for informed consent can improve patient safety and patient confidence. As patient advocates, nurses play a pivotal role in ensuring patients understand the risks and benefits.
References
Aristizabal, P., Bird, V., Robles, J., Nodora, j. & Martinez, E. (2023). Limited health literacy in Hispanic caregivers of children with cancer and childhood cancer survivors. JCO Oncology Practice 19, (11), 190. https://doi.org/10.1200/OP.2023.19.11_suppl.190
de Guzman, G. S., & Amosco, M. D. L. (2022). Patient experience and decisional satisfaction with the informed consent process for elective gynecologic surgeries: A cross-sectional study. Annals of medicine and surgery, 81, 104551. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amsu.2022.104551
Vikas, H., Ananth, K., Sharma, N., Gowda, N., & Gupta, A. (2021). How informed is informed consent. Journal of Family Medicine Primary Care, 10(6), 2299-2303. http://doi.10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc239320
Document Type
Poster
Publication Date
11-13-2024
Informed Consent: More Than Just Paperwork!
Background
Informed consent protects the rights of patients and guides the ethical practice of clinicians. Patient satisfaction is related to the quality and adequacy of information provided to them (Guzman & Amosco, 2021). Informed consent policies are typically written around surgical procedures and often do not provide the unique details around the process in radiation oncology.
Local Problem
During the investigation of care events, the nursing director noted differing practices around timing, use of plain language, and a lack of a standardized approach to obtaining consent. A major contributing factor was consents were not obtained during the consult when the physician and nurse were present.
Purpose/Objective
The goal was to complete informed consent during the patient consult 75% of the time.
Method
The Plan-Do-Study-Act model was used as a framework. The director presented the information to the Nursing Practice Professional Governance Council and the Morehead Interprofessional Governance Council to review and identify inconsistencies. A new SOP was written that standardized practice. A competency was completed all RNs, RTTs, MDs, and APPs . Monthly audits were completed and shared along with data analysis to fine tune the process.
Results/Findings
The project demonstrated a significant improvement in the timing of the consents at all sites. In 2022, the average number of consents completed during consults was 52% while in 2023, the average was 91%, (p=0.0001), demonstrating statistically significant results. Patient safety measured a score of 9.87 out of 10, while the national database mean benchmark was 9.16
Conclusion
Ensuring adequate time for informed consent and creating a standardized process can improve patient safety and improve the patient experience.
Implications for Practice
Reviewing and improving the process for informed consent can improve patient safety and patient confidence. As patient advocates, nurses play a pivotal role in ensuring patients understand the risks and benefits.
References
Aristizabal, P., Bird, V., Robles, J., Nodora, j. & Martinez, E. (2023). Limited health literacy in Hispanic caregivers of children with cancer and childhood cancer survivors. JCO Oncology Practice 19, (11), 190. https://doi.org/10.1200/OP.2023.19.11_suppl.190
de Guzman, G. S., & Amosco, M. D. L. (2022). Patient experience and decisional satisfaction with the informed consent process for elective gynecologic surgeries: A cross-sectional study. Annals of medicine and surgery, 81, 104551. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amsu.2022.104551
Vikas, H., Ananth, K., Sharma, N., Gowda, N., & Gupta, A. (2021). How informed is informed consent. Journal of Family Medicine Primary Care, 10(6), 2299-2303. http://doi.10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc239320
Affiliations
Atrium Health Levine Cancer