Calidad de la información en consentimientos informados de hernioplastia: legibilidad, comprensión y percepción del paciente

Resumen

Introducción

El consentimiento informado es el «proceso» mediante el cual el paciente recibe la información por parte del personal sanitario para poder comprender aspectos fundamentales sobre algún tipo de intervención, esto con el fin de que pueda consentir (o no) en que tal intervención se realice.

Objetivos

Analizar la legibilidad del documento de consentimiento informado (DCI) de hernioplastia y conocer si los pacientes leen y comprenden dicho consentimiento.

Pacientes y método

Se lleva a cabo un análisis de legibilidad del documento de consentimiento de hernioplastia de dos hospitales distintos utilizando los índices de Flesh- Szigriszt, Fernández- Huerta e INFLESZ. Adicionalmente se realiza un cuestionario acerca del grado de lectura y comprensión del DCI.

Resultados

El Consentimiento 1 (C1) obtuvo un Índice de Flesh- Szigriszt de 42,38 y un índice de Fernández- Huerta de 47,72. El Consentimiento 2 (C2) obtuvo un Índice de Flesh- Szigriszt de 53,83 y un índice de Fernández- Huerta de 58,80. Ambos consentimientos fueron clasificados como «Algo difícil» en la escala de INFLESZ. A más del 80% de los pacientes se les explicaron los riesgos y complicaciones. El 70% de ellos entendieron la información, aunque solo el 60% leyeron el CI. Coinciden en la dificultad de lectura, y en que es un respaldo legal para el médico.

Conclusiones

Los DCI de hernioplastia presentan unos índices de legibilidad no adecuados. Algo más de la mitad de los pacientes leen y comprenden el CI a pesar de eso y en su mayoría opinan que hay un exceso de información y que son difíciles de entender.

Abstract

Background

Informed consent (IC) is the process by which patients receive information from healthcare professionals in order to understand the essential aspects of a proposed intervention and to make an autonomous decision about whether to accept or refuse it. In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to written informed consent forms, partly because they appear to provide a more objective record of the communication process within the clinical relationship.

Objective

To analyze the readability of informed consent documents used for hernioplasty and to evaluate whether patients read these documents and their level of understanding of the information provided.

Patients and methods

We assessed the readability of informed consent documents using the Flesch-Szigriszt and Fernández-Huerta indices. In addition, patients were asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire including items related to whether they had read the document, their understanding of the surgical technique, associated risks and complications, the information received, and their general knowledge of informed consent.

Results

IC1 obtained a Flesch-Szigriszt Index score of 42.38 and a Fernández-Huerta Index score of 47.72. IC2 obtained a Flesch-Szigriszt Index score of 53.83 and a Fernández-Huerta Index score of 58.80. According to the INFLESZ scale, both documents were classified as “somewhat difficult.” More than 80% of patients reported having received an explanation of risks and complications. Although 70% stated that they understood the information, only 60% reported having read the informed consent document. Most patients agreed that the documents were difficult to read and considered that their primary function was legal protection for the physician.

Conclusions

Informed consent documents for hernioplasty show suboptimal readability levels. Although more than half of the patients reported reading and understanding the documents, many perceived an excess of information and considered the forms difficult to understand.