Abstract
Background: Genuine informed consent is not only a legal requirement, but also a matter of critical importance in an age where patients' rights to quality health care is at the fore of our healthcare system. The information provided to patients must be well considered, address all aspects of their proposed procedure, and be understandable to the general population. Through collaboration with the patients and clinicians at a day stay facility where colonoscopy is performed, an animated video was developed to provide a consistent and comprehensive approach to delivering the information patients need to be able to give informed consent. The project at hand aimed to assess the value of the video as an informational health resource product, with a view to implementing it in to clinical practise as a tool to improve the patients understanding of colonoscopy, empower them to ask questions of their healthcare professionals, and feel confident about giving genuine informed consent.
Aim: To assess the acceptability and informative value of a locally produced, animated video to provide standardised, consistent information to patients about their colonoscopy in order to support informed consent.
Methodology: This project used an evaluation research methodology to evaluate and make judgement on the efficacy of a new, professionally produced video in clinical practise. SurveyMonkey was used to develop a 22-item questionnaire to provide quantitative data as well as additional free text option for a number of questions to gain further insight. Data collection took place over a period of 3 months in 2019, with a total of 100 patients who had undergone colonoscopy completing the questionnaire. The study setting was a private surgical, day stay facility in Otago, New Zealand.
Results: Overall, response to the video was overwhelmingly positive. Due to the mandatory response of the questions within the SurveyMonkey, a full set of data was enabled. Respondents identified primarily as 'New Zealand European' with representation from all age ranges from 18-75+ years of age. More than half of the respondents had had previous colonoscopies, while for 47%, this was their first.Less than half of the study group had accessed the internet for health information before, however 86% felt very positive about receiving information about colonoscopy in a video format. A very high proportion of respondents (98%) found the video visually appealing. Further to this, all respondents found the information easy to understand and presented in an appropriate way. Similarly, respondents reported that the video sufficiently informed them of what to expect before, during and after their colonoscopy in an acceptable way.Details about the known, associated risks of colonoscopy were explained in accordance with current New Zealand guidelines and respondents found this manner in which these were explained acceptable, in addition, they overwhelmingly suggested that this would help them to recall these risks more accurately. Overall, respondents indicated they found the video to be useful to receive information about colonoscopy, and in turn, would recommend it to others who may be undergoing colonoscopy.
Conclusion: Respondents overall felt the animated video to provide information about colonoscopy was of good quality, and provided information in a manner that was understandable, not frightening, and comprehensive. They felt that it provided them with enough information to feel comfortable to provide informed consent for colonoscopy.