EP 231 MIND THE GAP, A Smartphrase Approach to Improve Surgical Consent

Abstract

Informed consent is a core ethical and legal requirement. By standardizing the consent documentation, this audit improved patient understanding, supported shared decision -making, and reduced variability that reduces potential medicolegal risks This audit evaluated the current practice regarding the quality of consent for elective day surgery cases, GMC Decision Making and Consent (2020) standards used as our benchmark. We reviewed the documented consent for 94 cases in the period between February 2025 to May 2025. We investigated documentation of the benefits, risks and complications, any alternative treatment options, additional procedure, provision of written leaflet. We identified major gaps, particularly around patient-centred domains, reflecting poor inconsistent practice and emphasis the need for a standardised relabel approach. The findings were presented in the departmental audit meeting alongside The Quality Improvement and Innovation Showcase event. To bridge these gaps, Smartphrases were designed, pre-written, editable templates that were built around the GMC consent principles, they were reviewed and disseminated via the EPIC system. 6 months later, we investigated 400 cases by evaluating the utility of them and compliance in filling all the identified gaps. The smartphrase users succeed to achieve 100 % compliance, reflecting that although this intervention is simple, low-cost, it serves as structured, practical, system-level solution and resulted in measurable, sustained improvement. As a conclusion of the comparative analysis of both cycles, our intervention led to substantial improvements in previously weak domains, including benefits documentation (56% to 97%), alternatives (37% to 62%), and leaflet provision (1% to 67%), demonstrating meaningful impact beyond baseline measurement.