Table 1 Profile of the study variables (n = 100)
|  | Items | Mean ± SD (n) or number of cases (%) |  |
|---|---|---|---|
Patient characteristics | Age (years) |  | 40.41 ± 19.72 (54) |
| Â | Sex | Male | 35 (35.0) |
| Â | Â | Female | 65 (65.0) |
| Â | Type of disease | Treatment is elective/not urgently necessary | 16 (16.0) |
| Â | Â | Othera | 84 (84.0) |
| Â | Severity of injury | Death | 43 (43.0) |
| Â | Â | Otherb | 57 (57.0) |
Physician characteristics | Number of doctors who explained | One | 73 (73.0) |
| Â | Â | Two or more | 27 (27.0) |
| Â | Department where patients were treated | Surgical system | 34 (34.0) |
| Â | Â | Otherc | 66 (66.0) |
| Â | Type of medical facility | Clinic | 27 (27.0) |
| Â | Â | Hospital | 73 (73.0) |
Manner of doctor's explanation | Purpose of explanation | Explanation to obtain patient's consent | 80 (80.0) |
| Â | Â | Otherd | 20 (20.0) |
| Â | Timing of doctor's explanation | Prior to treatment or surgery | 71 (70.0) |
| Â | Â | After treatment or surgery | 10 (10.0) |
| Â | Â | No explanation | 19 (20.0) |
| Â | Those who received doctor's explanation | Patient only | 36 (36.0) |
| Â | Â | Patient and family/family only | 45 (45.0) |
| Â | Â | No explanation | 19 (19.0) |
| Â | Manner of doctor's explanation to patient | Oral only | 44 (44.0) |
| Â | Â | Oral and other methods | 18 (18.0) |
| Â | Â | No explanation/no explanation to patient | 38 (38.0) |
| Â | Manner of doctor's explanation to family | Oral only | 36 (36.0) |
| Â | Â | Oral and other methods | 6 (6.0) |
| Â | Â | No explanation/no explanation to family | 58 (58.0) |
| Â | Level of doctor's explanation to patient | Relevant and specific | 20 (20.0) |
| Â | Â | Not sufficiently relevant or specific | 40 (40.0) |
| Â | Â | Unknown/no explanation/no explanation to patient | 40 (40.0) |
| Â | Level of doctor's explanation to family | Relevant and specific | 14 (14.0) |
| Â | Â | Not sufficiently relevant or specific | 27 (27.0) |
| Â | Â | Unknown/no explanation/no explanation to family | 59 (59.0) |
| Â | Place of doctor's explanation | Inpatient ward | 55 (55.0) |
| Â | Â | Outpatient clinic/other | 45 (45.0) |
| Â | Content of doctor's explanation | Related to surgery | 37 (37.0) |
| Â | Â | Othere | 63 (63.0) |
Litigation | Mean length of litigation (years) |  | 7.62 ± 4.41 (65) |
| Â | Legal basis of plaintiff's claim | Tort law only | 30 (30.0) |
| Â | Â | Tort law and contract law/contract law only | 69 (69.0) |
| Â | Â | Otherf | 1 (1.0) |
| Â | Introduction of medical expert witness | Yes | 34 (34.0) |
| Â | Â | No | 66 (66.0) |
| Â | Issue in litigation | Presence of doctor's explanation | 19 (19.0) |
| Â | Â | Insufficient/incorrect doctor's explanation | 81 (81.0) |
| Â | Acknowledgement of doctor's fault by court decision | Yes | 35 (35.0) |
| Â | Â | No | 62 (62.0) |
| Â | Â | Unknown | 3 (3.0) |
| Â | Acknowledgement of physician liability by court decision | Yes | 65(65.0) |
| Â | Â | No | 35(35.0) |