Remembering Risk: Using Visual Risk Display of MINS to Obtain Informed Consent to Undergo Elective Surgery

Informed consent is an important aspect of the patient-physician relationship. Prior to agreeing to undergo treatment patients must have risks and benefits disclosed to a "reasonable patient" standard.1 The 2016 Canadian Cardiovascular Society Guidelines on Perioperative Cardiac Risk Assessment strongly recommend the communication of perioperative cardiac risk to patients.2 Myocardial injury is the most common post-operative complications and has significant impact on patient outcomes including survival.2. However, very few studies have examined the communication of risk to patients, particularly when communicating perioperative cardiac risk.

The aim of this study is a 2-stage research project to address current practice in perioperative risk communication and examine opportunity to improve communication and patient education.

Phase One is structured to assess the current practices with respect to cardiac risk discussion at our academic center. During this initial phase, a survey will be offered after the PSS consultation to patients > 45 years old, seen in consult prior to elective orthopedic surgery requiring an overnight admission to KHSC. The survey will assess current risk discussion practices, patient satisfaction with cardiac risk discussion, ability to recall cardiac risk, importance of cardiac risk disclosure, and seek general feedback from participants.

Phase Two of this study is structured to assess the effectiveness of incorporating the use of structured, scripted risk discussion with and without the use of a visual aid. The patients will complete the survey instrument immediately after their PSS consultation to assess patient satisfaction with cardiac risk discussion, recall of risk, importance of cardiac risk discussion from the patients' perspective, and general feedback will be sought regarding perioperative education.

A subset of consenting patients during both Phase I and II will be followed-up post operatively (within 48h) to assess recall of preoperative cardiac risk discussion.