Surgical Informed Consent in Clinical Practice: Patients’ Perspective Undergoing Cesarean Section at Three Teaching Hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Informed consent is a communication process of providing the patient/parents/guardians with relevant information regarding the diagnosis and the treatment so that they can make informed decisions. This study was to assess the practice of surgical informed consent  in Addis Ababa.

METHODS: An institution-based cross-sectional study was undertaken in Addis Ababa in 2021. A total of 312 women who underwent cesarean section were interviewed immediately after their hospital discharge.  Thirteen components of SIC were used based on international recommendations, including the Royal College of Surgeons’ standards of informed consent practices for surgical procedures.

RESULTS:   Almost all (100 %) of the respondents were asked to provide written consent, and 96.2 % of them signed the consent form. Most women (89.4%) received information about the indication(s). Few (18.6%) respondents were informed about the type of anesthesia to be administered while only 9 %( n= 28) of them were given an opportunity to choose the option of anesthesia.  Only 44.9% of the respondents have received at least six of the 13 components of SIC suggested by the investigators. In this, the most secured data was the signature of the patient which is 96 %. The least documented element of SIC was alternative treatment.

CONCLUSION: A majority of women who underwent both elective and emergency cesarean section did not receive comprehensive information during the Surgical Informed Consent process in the study hospitals. There is a need that patients need to be counseled during antenatal visits, specifically when patients visit near term for antenatal checkups.