Informed consent from patients participating in medical education: a survey from a university hospital in Jamaica.

Background: Medical students at the University of the West Indies receive clinical training by passing through a series of hospital rotations at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI). Many of these patients are unaware that medical students may be involved in their care. We performed this study to determine patient awareness and their willingness to participate in research and teaching activities.

An assessment of the process of informed consent at the University Hospital of the West Indies.

Objective: To assess the adequacy of the process of informed consent for surgical patients at the University Hospital of the West Indies.

Method: The study is a prospective, cross-sectional, descriptive study. 210 patients at the University Hospital of the West Indies were interviewed using a standardised investigator-administered questionnaire, developed by the authors, after obtaining witnessed, informed consent for participation in the study.