Type of consent does not influence patient recall of serious potential radiation toxicity of adjuvant breast radiotherapy.

In a sample of 174 women who had received verbal consent (n = 35), general written consent (n = 34) or detailed toxicity-specific written consent (n = 105), no significant differences were found in recall of serious potential toxicities by consent type. Age younger than 70 years and employment outside of the home were significantly associated with better recall. Factors not significantly associated with different recall rates were work status, use of interpreters for consent, time elapsed from treatment or the extent of radiotherapy (tangents only vs other). Overall recall was poor. Twenty-eight percent of women could not correctly recall if their treatment risked any of four nominated complications (lymphoedema, pneumonitis, rib fracture or brachial plexopathy). Significant numbers of women erroneously attributed a number of 'complications' or symptoms to radiotherapy.