Aim: To evaluate patient-reported benefits of video-assisted electronic consent (eConsent) compared to the conventional consent for percutaneous ultrasound-guided kidney biopsies (PKB).

Background: Informed consent is how clinicians convey important information to patients enabling informed decision-making about procedures and/or treatments. Video-assisted consent has been shown to improve patient understanding, reduce anxiety, and improve patient satisfaction, whilst offering time savings for clinicians although it has not previously been used for PKB.

Methods: In a single-centre, open-label, randomised controlled trial, participants undergoing PKB were randomised 1:1 to video-assisted eConsent or conventional consent. The intervention group accessed an online platform with an explanatory animation before signing the eConsent. The control group received conventional (paper-based) consent from clinicians. Primary outcome was patient-reported PKB knowledge, with secondary outcomes including patient-reported experience (KidneyPREM), anxiety, satisfaction, and time taken to consent.

Results: Of the 124 randomised patients, 60 were assigned to each group, 3 declined PKB and 1 was previously consented. Mean age was 52 years, with 30.7% having an education of year 12 or below. Baseline characteristics did not differ between groups. The intervention group significantly outperformed the control group in PKB knowledge (p < 0.001), irrespective of their education level. Additionally, the intervention group exhibited better understanding of critical knowledge of pre- and post-PKB care and when to seek medical attention for complications. Anxiety levels, KidneyPREM, and satisfaction was similar between groups. Median clinician time for consent in the control group was 8.7 minutes.

Conclusion: Video-assisted eConsent improved PKB knowledge compared to conventional methods, without affecting anxiety levels, PREM and satisfaction. This approach holds promise for standardisation and more efficient consent process in PKB with potential translation to other areas of nephrology.