The background information
synthesized in this section and in Appendices A
and B may help healthcare professionals understand
the need for improvement in informed consent—and also appreciate
the rationale for the core recommendations and tools provided
in the next section. While the standards for informed consent
vary from state to state, there are commonalities worth
reviewing upfront. Similarly, while the conclusions about
the causes and potential solutions for ineffective informed
consent vary from study to study, the evidence base is worth
mining for practical ideas that can be applied in your institution.
Even studies on patient education in general or in research
settings can provide ideas on how to improve disclosure
in everyday clinical practice. Other excellent resources
on informed consent—many available free on the web—are listed
at the end of this guide.
Developed with a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
