Digital consent: engaging patients with plain language and better communication

Signed informed consent is “a pragmatic step that can be easily handled and even enforced,”1 but how best to obtain it? Richards says that digital consent forms might improve the process.2In our time constrained practices, delegating the task of obtaining consent to a digital platform could save precious time and effort, allowing patients to engage with the process at their own pace. A meta-analysis reported that signed informed consent interventions increase patients’ satisfaction with the decision making process, alongside providing lasting knowledge and not provoking anxiety.3Likewise, in a systematic review, most research and clinical digital informed consent tools had at least one positive outcome.4 Embedding interactivity in digital consent forms can improve comprehension.5 Digital consent also improves emotional measures; patients report higher satisfaction, perceived ease of use, and increased ability to complete the consent form independently.6 But would digital consent help all patients?The answer is—maybe. Doctors and patients have questioned…
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