PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Stefan Bajada AU - Samuel Dwamena AU - Zabihullah Abdul AU - Rhodri Williams AU - Owain Ennis TI - Improving consent form documentation and introduction of procedure-specific labels in a district general hospital AID - 10.1136/bmjquality.u211571.w4730 DP - 2017 Feb 01 TA - BMJ Quality Improvement Reports PG - u211571.w4730 VI - 6 IP - 1 4099 - http://bmjopenquality.bmj.com/content/6/1/u211571.w4730.short 4100 - http://bmjopenquality.bmj.com/content/6/1/u211571.w4730.full SO - BMJ Qual Improv Report2017 Feb 01; 6 AB - Informed consent is an important aspect in patient care. Failings in this area may result in patient dissatisfaction or litigation. The aim of this project was to assess our practice in consenting and institute changes to maintain best practice. A consecutive series of 140 patients undergoing elective and trauma procedures were randomly identified over a nine-month period. The consent forms were reviewed and the following information collected: patient/ consenter details, procedure, legibility, if copy was offered/ given to patient and adequacy of procedure-specific complications listed (scored 0-3). The issues identified included: 25% of consents were not fully legible particularly in the complications section. 62% were noted to have inadequate complications listed (score 0 [>5 risks missing]) when compared to an accepted standard. None of the consent form copies were offered or given to the patients. Focused teaching to juniors as well as procedure-specific complication stickers were implemented to improve the documentation of complications. Following several improvement cycles all consents (100%) were fully legible and had the adequate procedure-specific labels with all complications listed. There was an increase to 38% of consent forms offered to patients. We have asked surgeons in the department to comment on which consent method they prefer and all consenters felt that the procedure-specific labels where easier to read and understand. Departmental education as well as introduction of simple procedure-specific complication stickers has resulted in significant improvements in practice.