Impact of the systematic use of the informed consent form at public dental care units in Galicia (Spain).

AIM To ascertain the impact of routine application of the informed consent form at the primary dental care units of the Galician Health Service. STUDY DESIGN Non random selection of consecutive patients seeking tooth extraction between 9 January and 7 March 2007 at the dental care units of Burela, Praza do Ferrol and Viveiro (Lugo). The study included sociodemographic, clinical, utilization, behavioural and IC-related variables. MAIN RESULTS A total of 462 patients, mainly males (n=249; 53.9%) entered the study. The mean age of the participants was 57.87+/-17.54 years. 93.7% of the patients gave their consent for tooth extraction, whereas 47.3% did not want to be informed. The average time employed for obtaining the informed consent was 3.40+/-1.87 minutes, with a median of 4 and the same mode. The referred stress values did not differ before and after reading the informed consent form 3.28+/-2.52 vs 3.41+/-2.45 (p=0.661). CONCLUSION Routine application of the informed consent form before tooth extraction under local anaesthesia did not impair clinical practice nor is it a barrier to dental care. The use of this form does not require changes beyond the allocation of the time necessary for its completion.