Do Surgical Patients Feel They Are Adequately Informed of Decision-making Prior to Surgery?

Despite signing a consent form, many surgical patients subsequently report gaps in understanding an operation, its alternatives, and its impact on everyday life. Observational studies, patient surveys, and audio-recordings of preoperative interactions suggest that surgeons reliably meet legal requirements for informed consent but less often achieve informed, preference-concordant decisions-especially for older adults facing high-risk procedures. Emerging tools such as structured decision aids, scenario-based frameworks, risk visualization, and patient-reported outcome measures can improve knowledge, expectations, and satisfaction. This article reviews the state of the science, highlights practical communication frameworks, and outlines persistent gaps and future directions.