Informed Consent in Dermatologic Surgery

BACKGROUND The issue of informed consent retention has not been previously addressed in dermatology literature. Several studies in other fields of medicine have shown that retention rates are below 50%. OBJECTIVE To determine the percentage of complications recalled at 20 minutes and at 1 week after the informed consent process. METHODS Eighty-five consecutive patients undergoing Mohs micrographic surgery were given verbal and written instructions, including 10 potential complications. Patients were asked to recall these complications at 20 minutes and at 1 week after the informed consent process. RESULTS Overall group retention rate at 20 minutes and at 1 week were 26.5% and 24.4%, respectively. CONCLUSION Patients undergoing elective Mohs micrographic surgery have an overall retention rate of 26.5% just 20 minutes after being informed of 10 possible complications. It is obvious that the informed consent protocol needs additional modalities in order to improve overall retention rates.