Table 1

Search methods and criteria

Guiding research questionsHow is the informed consent to surgery concept interpreted by patients and healthcare providers and applied in sub-Saharan Africa? What factors affect healthcare providers’ SIC practices?
Data sourcesMedline, Embase and African Journal OnLine. Additionally, we performed a grey literature search in Google and hand searched the references of identified papers for further possible evidence sources.
Restrictions

  • English language articles only.

  • Publication date from 2010 onwards (to capture a fairly current situation).

  • Study types: all considered, except text and opinion papers, conference proceedings and dissertations.

Selection criteria: defined according to the Population, Concept and Context (PCC) framework29
InclusionExclusion
PopulationSurgical patients and their healthcare providers involved in the surgical informed consent process.
Concept

  • Informed consent practices, including provision of information on surgical treatment, consent forms, patients’ participation and autonomy in decision-making, understanding of and satisfaction with consent process.

  • Studies on surgical services with a dedicated results section on consent.

  • Consent to surgery only mentioned, but not the focus of the study.

  • Epidemiological or clinical aspects of surgery.

  • Informed consent for medical treatment and examinations (eg, HIV, maternity, etc).

  • Informed consent for participation in research related to surgery.

Context

  • Healthcare facilities performing surgery.

  • Sub-Saharan Africa countries.

  • Care services in refugee camps or in the community.

  • Countries outside the sub-Saharan Africa region.

  • SIC, surgical informed consent.