Study Objective: To ascertain patients' recall of the risks of labor e
pidural analgesia from a discussion of informed consent during active
labor. Design: Survey analysis following an intervention. Setting: Lab
or and delivery unit of a tertiary-care teaching hospital. Patients: 1
01 ASA physical status I and II parturients in active labor. Intervent
ions: Patients were given a standardized discussion of the risks of la
bor epidural analgesia. Measurements and Main Results: Within 24 hours
of the informed consent discussion, patients were first asked to reca
ll risks, and then asked to identify risks from a true and false list.
Patients recalled 2.0 +/- 1.3 risks (mean +/- SD), with 12% recalling
at least four risks, 37% recalling at least three risks, 66% recallin
g at least two risks, and 87% recalling at least one risk. There was n
o difference in level of recall between primiparas and multiparas, or
in patients with mild and moderate pain scores versus those patients w
ith severe pain scores. Conclusions: Recall of risks by parturients is
similar to the recall of risks by other patients, and if does not app
ear to be affected by parity or the reported level of pain. (C) 1998 b
y Elsevier Science Inc.