Identifying the Minimum Knowledge Level of Physicians in Terms of Informed Consent at Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University

Abstract

Aim: Identifying the minimum knowledge level of physicians at Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University in terms of informed consent. Material and Method: We used the Physicians’ Minimum Knowledge Level of Informed Consent Survey. Face to face interviews were conducted with 350 physicians through March and April, 2014. Results were assessed with Chi-square and Somers’ D tests by using SPSS 21.0. Reliability analysis displayed a high internal consistency of the survey (Cronbach alpha=0,665). Findings: Seventeen of the participants reported that there was no informed consent form in their department regarding medical practice. The average age of the physicians who had informed consent forms in their department regarding medical practice was 32.84 9.73 (min: 24 max: 65), 58% were male, 52% were single, 56.2% were aged under 30 years, 65.2% work as a medical resident. Of the participants, 97% obtained the informed consent verbally and 59.5% provided a written form. A total of 41.4% of the participants reported that only residents shared information regarding suggested treatment in their clinic, and 30% of the participants allowed the patient more than 20 minutes to comprehend the information. The ratio of physicians who have concerns about malpractice lawsuits despite having informed consent is 57.7%. Discussion: Training has been planned for the departments as an outcome of this survey since main concern of physicians was malpractice lawsuits regarding unprotectiveness of informed consent practice. While the practice of obtaining written consent in the surgical branches has become a standard practice, informing of pharmacotherapy is observed more often in nonsurgical departments. Keywords: Informed consent, malppractice, standart practice