SAAD Digest 

March 2025
Volume: 41
Issue: 1
DOI: 10.63507/BOYT1249

Title: Clinical audit on the quality of written consent for inhalation sedation

Author(s):  R. Corden

Abstract: 

Valid written consent is mandatory for all dental treatment that is carried out under conscious sedation. Clinical teams have a duty to evidence that valid consent was obtained via appropriate discussion with patients or their legal guardians. Good quality clinical records are vital to show that appropriate discussions have been undertaken and to aid in future clarity should queries arise from patients or their legal guardians. This loop-closure audit focuses on whether written consent forms were correctly and accurately completed prior to treatment being carried out under inhalation sedation within salaried dental services at Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and covers both Exeter Dental Access Centre and Barnstaple Dental Access Centre. It shows that there was a substantial improvement in accurately completed written consent forms, after an action plan was created and discussion at the Joint Service Meeting, from 43% to 90% between the initial audit and re-audit.

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Articles from Digest 41(1)