Poster Session I - A64 ENHANCING INFORMED CONSENT: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS OF VIDEO- AND COMPUTER-BASED APPROACHES COMPARED WITH CONVENTIONAL METHODS

TL;DR

Digital tools like videos and computers improve patient understanding and reduce anxiety during informed consent compared to traditional methods.

Contribution

A systematic review and meta-analysis showing digital consent tools enhance patient knowledge and reduce anxiety more effectively than conventional approaches.

Findings

Digital consent tools significantly improve patient knowledge compared to conventional methods.

Digital consent tools significantly reduce patient anxiety compared to conventional methods.

Digital consent tools show a trend toward higher patient satisfaction, though not statistically significant.

Abstract

Informed consent is a critical component of patient-centered care. Traditional consent processes may not always optimize patient comprehension, satisfaction, or anxiety reduction, due to time constraints. Video- or computer-based consent interventions have emerged as potential tools to enhance these outcomes.

To systematically review and synthesize evidence comparing video/computer-based consent processes with standard or conventional consent approaches, focusing on patient knowledge, satisfaction, and anxiety.

A comprehensive search was conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials and comparative studies evaluating video/computer-based versus conventional consent methods. Primary outcomes were patient knowledge, satisfaction, and anxiety. Risk of bias was assessed using standardized tools, and pooled analyses were performed where data permitted.

A total of 376 studies were identified through database searching, of which 9 studies met inclusion criteria. Compared with standard consent, video/computer-based interventions significantly improved patient knowledge (OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.72-2.84, I2 = 87%). Patient satisfaction was also higher with video/computer-based methods, but not significant (OR 1.35, 95% CI 0.87-2.10, I2 = 67%). Anxiety levels showed significant difference/reduction between groups (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.42–0.85, I2 = 0%). The overall risk of bias was moderate, with frequent limitations in blinding and allocation concealment.

Video- and computer-based consent processes enhance patient knowledge and satisfaction without increasing anxiety. These findings support incorporating digital tools as effective adjuncts to conventional consent, though further high-quality studies with standardized outcome measures are needed.

Overall effect of Video- and Computer-Based Consent on: a) Patient knowledge, b) Patient anxiety levels, and c) Patient satisfaction

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