Table 1.

Distribution of the study sample according to some demographic and informed consent (IC)-related characteristics

	Male (n = 45, 27.8%)		Female (n = 117, 72.2%)		Total (n = 162, 100%)		Statistical significance
	No	%	No	%	No	%
Age group (years)
<40	24	53.3	70	59.8	94	58
>40	21	46.7	47	40.2	68	42	χ2 = 0.563, P = 0.453
	40.89 ± 20.05		37.93 ± 14.19		38.75 ± 16.01		t = 0.896, P = 0.37
Education
Less than secondary	9	20.0	34	29.1	43	26.5
Secondary or higher	36	80.0	83	70.9	119	73.5	χ2 = 1.37, P = 0.24
Specialty of procedure
General surgery	19	42.2	45	38.5	64	39.5
Obstetrics/gynecology	0	0.0	44	37.6	44	27.2
Internal medicine	17	37.8	24	20.5	41	25.3
Cardiology	9	20.0	4	3.4	13	8.0	χ2 = 32.0, df = 3, P < 0.001
IC was signed by patient himself/herself
	38	84.4	92	78.6	130	80.2	χ2 = 0.693, P = 041
Patient was asked to sign by whom? (%)
Physician	28	62.2	70	59.8	98	60.5
Nurse	12	26.7	24	20.5	36	22.2
Others	5	11.1	22	18.8	27	16.7
No one	0	0	1	0.9	1	0.6	χ2 = 7.13, df = 3, P = 0.21
IC explained by (%)
Physician	32	71.1	77	65.8	109	67.3
Nurse	4	8.9	11	9.4	15	9.3
Others	4	8.9	15	12.8	19	11.7
No one	5	11.1	14	12.0	19	11.7	χ2 = 0.59, df = 3, P = 0.90