Patient Satisfaction and Knowledge of Informed Consent Among Patients Undergoing Elective Surgery: A Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study

Background: Patient satisfaction and understanding of informed consent are important indicators of quality surgical care and patient autonomy.

Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted among 150 adults undergoing elective surgery at two hospitals in Chennai. Participants were interviewed postoperatively using a structured questionnaire covering demographic characteristics, perioperative satisfaction, and informed-consent experiences. Data were summarized using frequencies and percentages, with chi-square goodness-of-fit analysis used to assess response distributions.

Results: Satisfaction was high for staff friendliness (88.7%), operating-room comfort (88.0%), and overall surgical experience (76.0%). However, only 21.3% recalled being informed about alternatives, 26.0% knew they could refuse treatment, and 12.7% knew consent could be withdrawn. Overall satisfaction with the consent process was 87.3%.

Conclusion: Despite high satisfaction, important gaps existed in informed-consent understanding. Clear, patient-centred communication and adequate counselling are needed to support informed and autonomous decision-making.