A Cross-Sectional Study on the Readability Levels of Dermatology and Cosmetology Consent Forms Used in a Tertiary Hospital

Abstract

Objective: Consent forms are crucial in protecting physicians from a medico-legal standpoint. Patients give their consent for interventional procedures by signing a written document after being informed. The term “readability” is used to determine the level of education required to understand a text. The aim of our study was to evaluate the readability of consent forms used in the department of dermatology and venereology and cosmetology clinics and to determine their readability level. Material and Methods: In this study, two different readability indexes, Ateşman and Bezirci-Yılmaz, which have been proven to be effective for Turkish texts, were used. The consent forms used in our hospital were evaluated as two subgroups. Results: The total of 24 consent forms used in the dermatology and cosmetology departments had an average score of 16.30±9.30 according to the Bezirci-Yılmaz readability index, indicating that they were readable with approximately 16 years of education. According to the Ateşman readability formula, the consent forms were found to be readable with university-level education, with an average score of 39.90±10.50. In subgroup analyses, there was no statistically significant difference in the readability levels of the dermatology and cosmetology consent forms according to both the Bezirci-Yılmaz and Ateşman Readability Indexes (p=0.297, p=0.881). Conclusion: Patient consent forms should be easily readable. The consent forms used in dermatology and cosmetology were found to have a very low readability level. Our study suggests that a multi-center evaluation and improvement of the readability level of consent forms used in dermatology clinics in Türkiye is necessary. © © 2024 by Türkiye Klinikleri.