Development of an Informed Consent Statement Which Communicates the Risk of Adverse Events Associated With Dry Needling Using an Online Nominal Group

Dry Needling (DN) has been defined by a Task Force organized by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) as "a skilled intervention performed by a physical therapist using filiform needles to penetrate the skin and/or underlying tissues to affect change in body structures and functions for the evaluation and management of neuromusculoskeletal conditions, pain, movement impairments, and disability". As DN interest continues to expand and studies continue to show the feasibility of applying DN to a wider range of pathological conditions, there is a need to understand the risks related to the use of DN. Understanding the risks associated with DN will allow for improvements in clinical decision making regarding it's application in the clinic.

Enhancing patient choice is a central theme of medical ethics and law. Informed consent (IC) is the legal process used to promote patient autonomy while concepts of shared decision making (SDM) is a widely promoted ethical approach. IC is a means of respecting the autonomous preferences of persons seeking health care or participation in research. Empowerment of the patient is important in healthcare and can lead to improvements in overall quality of patient care and outcomes.

To date, there has been little research conducted that explored the topic of how risks should be presented during the IC process. The purpose of this study will be to utilize expert consensus to establish a risk statement for adverse events associated with DN that an be used during IC.