Obtaining informed consent: psychiatric nurses’ knowledge and practice at federal neuropsychiatric hospital Enugu, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Within a psychiatric care setting, informed consent is the voluntary acceptance of a plan for medical care by a competent patient after full disclosure of the care plan, its risks, benefits, and alternative approaches. This implies that the patient must have full information about any treatment options and must be competent to make the needed decisions. Objective: To assess psychiatric nurses' knowledge and practices of obtaining informed consent. Research Method: The study used a quantitative, descriptive cross-sectional survey design. Data were collected from a random sample of 99 nurses selected from a total of 131 nurses of different professional cadres working in the hospital, by means of a structured questionnaire constructed by the researchers. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Respondents' score on Knowledge of Informed Consent was above average (15.06 ± 2.671 out of a possible total score of 25). Likewise, their score on the disclosure of full information to psychiatric patients before treatment was well above average (6.01 ± 2.198 out of a maximum possible score of 8). However, respondents' score on the practice of obtaining Informed Consent was below average (2.41 ± 0.940 out of a maximum possible score of 5). Conclusion: Though a majority of the participants indicated good knowledge of informed consent, there was no corresponding correct practice of obtaining informed consent from patients in the hospital.

Knowledge, and Practice of Nurses regarding informed consent at Friendship Hospital in Sudan

“…However, in study conducted by Chinwe in NIGERIA found that the vast majority of participants (94.8%) were aware of the legal and ethical implications of informed consent. (Chinwe S. F. Ezeruigbo, 2022) This study reveals that half of the participants were knowledgeable about informed consent but a survey carried out by Chinwe shows affirmed knowledge about informed consent. (Chinwe S. F. Ezeruigbo, 2022) The present study found that the majority of participants were aware mental status is an important indicator of the ability to consent this finding is similar to a survey done by Chima in South Africa which found that most nurses in the study were aware of that and used routine mental status examinations to assess patients' competence.…”

“…(Chinwe S. F. Ezeruigbo, 2022) This study reveals that half of the participants were knowledgeable about informed consent but a survey carried out by Chinwe shows affirmed knowledge about informed consent. (Chinwe S. F. Ezeruigbo, 2022) The present study found that the majority of participants were aware mental status is an important indicator of the ability to consent this finding is similar to a survey done by Chima in South Africa which found that most nurses in the study were aware of that and used routine mental status examinations to assess patients' competence. (Chima, 2022) According to this study, most of the participants spend between five and fifteen minutes on average, explaining all the facts the patient needs to know before signing the surgical consent.…”

“…(Astrid P Susilo, 2013) Obtaining informed consent from patients prior to initiating any treatment, regardless of how invasive, is a mandatory medical practice in most countries due to the clear fundamental nature of informed consent and its significant implications for medical care and patient treatment. (Chinwe S. F. Ezeruigbo, 2022) Regardless of the process be it physical examination, organ donation, or something else entirely-a patient's consent is required. Medical ethics and international human rights and legislation both heavily rely on the consent principle.…”