Informed consent for family planning – a quality improvement study

Authors

  • Matilde Padrão Dias Médica interna de Medicina Geral e Familiar, USF Dafundo, ACES Oeiras
  • Cecília Shinn Médica interna de Medicina Geral e Familiar, USF S. Julião, ACES Oeiras
  • Liliana Amaral Médica interna de Medicina Geral e Familiar, USF S. Julião, ACES Oeiras
  • Maria João Araújo Médica interna de Medicina Geral e Familiar, USF Conde de Oeiras, ACES Oeiras
  • Ana Pinto Secretária clínica, USF S. Julião, ACES Oeiras
  • Paula Gonzalez Enfermeira, USF S. Julião, ACES Oeiras
  • Daniel Pinto Médico especialista de Medicina Geral e Familiar, USF S. Julião, Departamento de Medicina Geral e Familiar – Faculdade de Ciências Médicas – Universidade Nova de Lisboa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v30i3.11360

Keywords:

Informed Consent, Family Planning, Quality Improvement

Abstract

Objectives: To increase the rate of obtaining informed consent for family planning procedures (insertion of intrauterine devices and subcutaneous contraceptive implants) Study design: Uncontrolled pre- and post- intervention design Setting: S. Julião Family Health Unit. Participants: Patients in the S. Julião FHU who visited the Unit for insertion of an intrauterine device or subcutaneous contraceptive implant. Methods: The S. Julião FHU team designed an informed consent form in August 2012 but usage rates were found to be low (62.5%). Focus groups were organized to propose quality improvement strategies to increase the rate of obtaining informed consent. Two post-intervention periods were defined: immediate (0 to 3 months) and late (4 to 6 months). The Fisher exact test was used to compare rates of informed consent obtained before and after the intervention. Results: Informed consent was obtained from 62,5% of patients in the pre-intervention period. Informed consent was obtained for 100% of family planning procedures during both the immediate and late post intervention periods (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Health professionals at S. Julião FHU were able to implement quality improvement strategies and to increase rates of obtaining informed consent. The efficacy of the intervention was due to involvement of all staff members. This strategy was only applied in one Family Health Unit, which may limit the external validity of the results. However, simple strategies may be effective in significantly increasing rates of obtaining informed consent in family planning procedures.

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Published

2014-05-01

Issue

Vol. 30 No. 3 (2014): Revista Portuguesa de Medicina Geral e Familiar

Section

Original Research

License

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How to Cite

Informed consent for family planning – a quality improvement study. (2014). Portuguese Journal of Family Medicine and General Practice, 30(3), 168-72. https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v30i3.11360

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