[Informed consent process: inpatients competency and admission clerks' performance in teaching hospitals in Kashan, Iran]

ABSTRACT

Patients' decision-making and legal capacity are major factors of informed consent considered as a basis of medical ethics. This study aimed to determine the undergoing surgery inpatients capacity to sign the consent form and admission clerks' performance in taking the form in teaching hospitals in Kashan. In this cross sectional study, 300 random inpatients and admission clerks in 3 hospitals were observed through a checklist to determine the patients' legal capacity to sign the consent form and admission clerks' performance. We analyzed the data through SPSS software with lambda[2] test. Only 55% patients singed themselves the consent form, however, 80% patients could sign it legally. In addition, 3.6% patients who signed the consent were not allowed to sign it. In addition, 59.3% surrogates were not allowed to sign the consent form. Admission clerks did not encourage 98.7% patients [surrogates] to read the consent form; also staffs did not give any opportunity to 75.3% patients [surrogates] for reading the form. Admission staffs did not control the legal relationship of surrogates who signed the consent form. Explaining the consent form to patients [surrogates] and more attention to legal capacity of consenter, also, documenting the policy to taking the consent form seems to be necessary