[Readability of surgical informed consent in Spain]. / Legibilidad del consentimiento informado quirúrgico en España.

INTRODUCTION: To assess the readability of informed consent documents (IC) of the different national surgical societies. METHODS: During January 2012 we collected 504 IC protocols of different specialties. To calculate readability parameters the following criteria were assessed: number of words, syllables and phrases, syllables/word and word/phrase averages, Word correlation index, Flesch-Szigriszt index, Huerta Fernández index, Inflesz scale degree and the Gunning-Fog index. RESULTS: The mean Flesch-Szigriszt index was 50.65 ± 6,72, so readability is considered normal. There are significant differences between specialties such as Urology (43.00 ± 4.17) and Angiology and Vascular Surgery (63.00 ± 3.26, P<.001). No IC would be appropriate for adult readability according to the Fernández-Huerta index (total mean 55.77 ± 6.57); the IC of Angiology and Vascular Surgery were the closest ones (67.85 ± 3.20). Considering the Inflesz scale degree (total mean of 2.84 ± 3,23), IC can be described as «somewhat difficult¼. There are significant differences between the IC of Angiology and Vascular Surgery (3.23 ± 0.47) that could be qualified as normal, or Cardiovascular Surgery (2.79 ± 0.43) as «nearly normal readability¼; and others such as Urology (1, 70 ± 0.46, P<.001) and Thoracic Surgery (1.90 ± 0.30, P<.001), with a readability between «very¼ and «somewhat¼ difficult. The Gunning-Fog indexes are far from the readability for a general audience (total mean of 26.29 ± 10,89). CONCLUSIONS: IC developed by scientific societies of different surgical specialties do not have an adequate readability for patients. We recommend the use of readability indexes during the writing of these consent forms.

Legibilidad del consentimiento informado quirúrgico en España / Readability of surgical informed consent in Spain

INTRODUCCIÓN: Evaluar la legibilidad de los documentos de consentimiento informado (CI) de las diferentes sociedades nacionales quirúrgicas. MÉTODOS: Durante enero de 2012 se recogieron los 504 protocolos de CI de las diferentes especialidades. Para el cálculo de legibilidad se valoraron los parámetros: número de palabras, sílabas y frases, promedio sílabas/palabra y palabras/frase, índice de correlación Word, índice de Flesch-Szigriszt, índice de Fernández-Huerta, grado en la escala Inflesz y el índice de Gunning-Fog. RESULTADOS: La media del índice de Flesch-Szigriszt fue de 50,65 ± 6,72, por lo que se consideran de legibilidad normal. Existen diferencias significativas entre especialidades como Urología (43,00 ± 4,17) y Angiología y Cirugía Vascular (63,00 ± 3,26; p < 0,001). Ningún CI sería apropiado para la legibilidad de adultos según el índice de Fernández-Huerta (media total de 55,77 ± 6,57), solo se acercan los CI de Angiología y Cirugía Vascular (67,85 ± 3,20). Considerando el grado en la escala Inflesz (media total de 2,84 ± 3,23), pueden ser calificados como algo difíciles. Existen diferencias significativas entre los CI de Angiología y Cirugía Vascular (3,23 ± 0,47) que podrían calificarse como normales, o Cirugía Cardiovascular (2,79 ± 0,43) como una legibilidad casi normal y otras como Urología (1,70 ± 0,46; p < 0,001) o Cirugía Torácica (1,90 ± 0,30; p < 0,001), con una legibilidad entre muy y algo difícil. El índice de Gunning-Fog está muy alejado de la legibilidad para la audiencia general (media total de 26,29 ± 10,89). CONCLUSIONES: Los CI desarrollados por las sociedades científicas nacionales de las diferentes especialidades quirúrgicas no poseen una legibilidad adecuada para los pacientes. Es recomendable el empleo de índices de legibilidad durante la redacción de los mismos

INTRODUCTION: To assess the readability of informed consent documents (IC) of the different national surgical societies. METHODS: During January 2012 we collected 504 IC protocols of different specialties. To calculate readability parameters the following criteria were assessed: number of words, syllables and phrases, syllables/word and word/phrase averages, Word correlation index, Flesch-Szigriszt index, Huerta Fernández index, Inflesz scale degree and the Gunning-Fog index. RESULTS: The mean Flesch-Szigriszt index was 50.65 ± 6,72, so readability is considered normal. There are significant differences between specialties such as Urology (43.00 ± 4.17) and Angiology and Vascular Surgery (63.00 ± 3.26, P<.001). No IC would be appropriate for adult readability according to the Fernández-Huerta index (total mean 55.77 ± 6.57); the IC of Angiology and Vascular Surgery were the closest ones (67.85 ± 3.20). Considering the Inflesz scale degree (total mean of 2.84 ± 3,23), IC can be described as «somewhat difficult». There are significant differences between the IC of Angiology and Vascular Surgery (3.23 ± 0.47) that could be qualified as normal, or Cardiovascular Surgery (2.79 ± 0.43) as «nearly normal readability»; and others such as Urology (1, 70 ± 0.46, P<.001) and Thoracic Surgery (1.90 ± 0.30, P<.001), with a readability between «very» and «somewhat» difficult. The Gunning-Fog indexes are far from the readability for a general audience (total mean of 26.29 ± 10,89). CONCLUSIONS: IC developed by scientific societies of different surgical specialties do not have an adequate readability for patients. We recommend the use of readability indexes during the writing of these consent forms