Informed consent in clinical practice: pre-registration house officers’ knowledge, difficulties and the need for postgraduate training

Abstract

In clinical practice consent is often obtained by junior doctors. This study investigates the involvement of pre-registration house officers (PRHOs) in the process of obtaining consent, the supervision they receive and their knowledge on the subject. Some 74% of the PRHOs in post completed the questionnaire; 68% had often or sometimes obtained consent during their year as PRHO; 18% stated that on the occasions when they had obtained consent they were always the only person eliciting consent; 62% of the doctors perceived some lack of knowledge with regard to the nature of the procedure as a difficulty. Despite a comprehensive undergraduate programme in ethics, law and communication there is a need for applied education regarding the clinical procedures for which PRHOs are obtaining consent.

Notes

Notes on contributors

JAN SCHILDMANN is a Physician in the Institute for History of Medicine and Medical Ethics and Department of Medicine III, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.

ANNIE CUSHING is Senior Lecturer in the Clinical, Communication and Learning Skills Unit, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, Barts and The London, St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, UK.

LEN DOYAL is Professor in the Department of Human Science and Medical Ethics, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK.

JOCHEN VOLLMANN is Professor in the Institute for History of Medicine and Medical Ethics, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany.