Study on parents' understanding of the elements of informed

consent at Gertrude’s Garden Children’s Hospital in Nairobi –

Kenya
Purpose of study: To explore parents' understanding of the elements of
informed consent at Gertrudes Gardens Children’s
Hospital in Nairobi – Kenya

Benkele Rodgers Gift, BScN, ZRN, ZEN (Paediatric Nursing student); Lecturer , Chipata
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Chipata General & Provincial Hospital, Chipata, Eastern
Province, Zambia; Correspondence: e-mail: benkelerg@gmail.com or
rodgersgiftbenkele@yahoo.co.uk Tel:0711832027.

Abstract

Informed consent and parental permission have a long and extraordinary history.
Consenting is a legal and ethical principle that exists whereby consent must be obtained
before operation/procedure. The doctrine of informed consent has three essential
elements; competency, voluntariness and information. An individual requiring an
operation/procedure needs to provide an informed consent. Adequate information is
provided to make a decision. The health care provider should ensure that the client is
thoroughly informed. Non-compliance with this requirement is unethical.
A cross sectional explorative study to determine parents' understanding of the
elements of informed consent at Gertrude’s Garden’s Children’s Hospital was conducted
from May to October 2009. The research involved a sample of 57 parents/surrogates
selected using simple random sampling method with children who were day one post
operatively admitted to Jacaranda surgical ward. A structured questionnaire consisting of
information on demographics, Nature of operation/procedure; explanation of the
operation/procedure; benefits, risks and alternatives; anaesthesia; cost for the operation
and parents/guardian’s views was used to collect data.
The study found out that 84% of the parents/surrogates the surgeons made
explanations about the operation/procedure. However, 9% of the participants had to seek
for more information from friends with previous experience. It has also found that 95%
of the participants were not told of the possible complications/risks concerning the
operation/procedure and in their own views 75% of the participants said the information
was not adequate. It was also found that only 39% of the parents/surrogates received
direct information from the anaesthetists concerning anaesthesia. Finally, it was found
that 89% of the parents/surrogates under insurance cover were not informed of the costs
prior to the operation/procedure.
The author recommends that health care providers should make deliberate efforts
to ensure that parents/surrogates are given adequate information before giving consent.
Team spirit should be promoted at all levels. Nurses at the ward level should be
empowered with information by the surgeons on what would be done as some patients
are only admitted on the morning of the operation. The anaesthetists should also ensure
that all parents/surrogates are informed of the anaesthesia. The surgeons should also
explain the possible complications/risks following operation.