Sand K, Loge JH, Berger O, Grønberg BH, Kaasa S. Lung cancer patients' perceptions of informed consent documents.
Patient Educ Couns 2008;
73:313-317. [PMID:
18691845 DOI:
10.1016/j.pec.2008.06.011]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2007] [Revised: 06/16/2008] [Accepted: 06/16/2008] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To compare patients' perceptions and preferences of two different versions of informed consent documents.
METHODS
Patients eligible for a trial of palliative chemotherapy for lung cancer (N = 22) were randomly assigned to receive either an original consent document or a shortened version written for the present study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted after the patients had read the consent documents. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using qualitative content analysis.
RESULTS
Few differences between the two groups were found with respect to patients' assessment of the amount of content and the most important information in the documents. Information about disease and treatment seemed to be of most interest for the patients, while information about research aspects of the study such as financing, confidentiality and publishing (formalities) was judged to be of lesser relevance. Two patients who read the original document indicated that they treated the formalities as secondary.
CONCLUSION
Patients seemed to pay little attention to the research aspects, and thus risked to misunderstand the main point of the consent document.
PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS
The structure of consent documents should clarify for the readers that they are asked to take part in research, and that participation is voluntary.
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