The impact of obtaining explicit informed consent for medical student participation in the pelvic examination under anesthesia: A qualitative interview study

Abstract

Objective

To examine patient, physician, and operating room (OR) staff perceptions at an academic institution following the introduction of an explicit, written consent form for medical student participation in the pelvic examination under anesthesia (EUA).

Methods

The study was performed at one urban academic medical center between May 2021 and May 2023. Thirty-one individuals including patients, OR staff, and physicians were interviewed to better understand their perspectives regarding an initiative to explicitly consent patients for the student pelvic EUA. Northwestern University Institutional Review Board approval was obtained.

Results

Patients appreciated being asked to explicitly consent to or refuse the student pelvic EUA and having a dedicated consent form left them with a positive feeling about the hospital and their healthcare providers. OR staff and physicians agreed that the student pelvic EUA is necessary, and almost all supported an explicit consent form. Physicians did not find the additional consent form burdensome and noted only a modest decline in learning opportunities.

Conclusion

Patients and healthcare providers agreed that requiring explicit written consent for the student pelvic EUA respected patient autonomy, improved healthcare quality, and caused minimal disruption to medical education. Our data support the use of an explicit written consent form as standard practice.