Abstract
Objectives
Little is known about how innovative surgical procedures are introduced and discussed with patients. This qualitative study aimed to explore perspectives on information provision and consent prior to innovative surgical procedures.
Design
Qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and analysed thematically.
Participants
42 interviews were conducted (26 surgeons and 16 governance representatives).
Setting
Surgeons and governance representatives recruited from various surgical specialities and National Health Service Trusts across England, United Kingdom.
Results
Participants stated that if a procedure was innovative, patients should be provided with additional information extending beyond that given during routine surgical consultations. However, difficulty defining innovation had implications for whether patients were informed about novel components of surgery and how the procedure was introduced (i.e. as part of a research study, trust approval or in routine clinical practice). Furthermore, data suggests surgeons found it difficult to establish what information is essential and how much detail is sufficient, and governance surrounding written and verbal information provision differed between NHS trusts. Generally, surgeons believed patients held a view that 'new' was best and reported that managing these expectations could be difficult, particularly if patient views aligned with their own.
Conclusions
This study highlights the challenges of information provision and obtaining informed consent in the context of innovative surgery, including establishing if and how a procedure is truly innovative, determining the key information to discuss with patients, ensuring information provision is objective and balanced, and managing patient expectations and preferences. This suggests that surgeons may require support and training to discussing novel procedures with patients. Further work should capture consultations where new procedures are discussed with patients and patients’ views of these information exchanges.
Little is known about how innovative surgical procedures are introduced and discussed with patients. This qualitative study aimed to explore perspectives on information provision and consent prior to innovative surgical procedures.
Design
Qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and analysed thematically.
Participants
42 interviews were conducted (26 surgeons and 16 governance representatives).
Setting
Surgeons and governance representatives recruited from various surgical specialities and National Health Service Trusts across England, United Kingdom.
Results
Participants stated that if a procedure was innovative, patients should be provided with additional information extending beyond that given during routine surgical consultations. However, difficulty defining innovation had implications for whether patients were informed about novel components of surgery and how the procedure was introduced (i.e. as part of a research study, trust approval or in routine clinical practice). Furthermore, data suggests surgeons found it difficult to establish what information is essential and how much detail is sufficient, and governance surrounding written and verbal information provision differed between NHS trusts. Generally, surgeons believed patients held a view that 'new' was best and reported that managing these expectations could be difficult, particularly if patient views aligned with their own.
Conclusions
This study highlights the challenges of information provision and obtaining informed consent in the context of innovative surgery, including establishing if and how a procedure is truly innovative, determining the key information to discuss with patients, ensuring information provision is objective and balanced, and managing patient expectations and preferences. This suggests that surgeons may require support and training to discussing novel procedures with patients. Further work should capture consultations where new procedures are discussed with patients and patients’ views of these information exchanges.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | e035251 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | BMJ Open |
| Volume | 10 |
| Issue number | 11 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 6 Nov 2020 |
Keywords
- consent
- surgery
- information provision
- innovation
- qualitative