Informed Consent

Informed consent is an agreement or permission by an individual for something or an
activity. It is considered upon an adequate understanding of the contents, significance, or
consequences of that specific activity. It captures an individual understanding of that specific
thing or activity and their acceptance and consequent permission for that activity. Informed
consent has been utilized in medical procedures as well as in decisions that require the view
of the victim. It is thus a critical component of ethical behaviour as it showcases respect for the
involved candidate. Legal frameworks guiding informed consent provide the due age at
which an individual is merited to give informed consent. This age differs by place as well as
the activity involved. This paper seeks to discuss the creation of informed consent for sign up
to a cardiac rehabilitation process by a cardiovascular disease patient.
Informed Consent for Participation in a Training Program
Name…………………………………. Date………………………….
Purpose and Explanation of the Test

I will be engaging in various cardiac rehabilitation exercises. The exercise will help
increase my exercise capacity as well as improve the general quality of life. These beneficial
effects warrant its use in cardiac management. The exercises will include resistance training
using a treadmill. I understand the goals of the cardiovascular fitness program, which is
designed to help boost the level of physical activity as well as ensure that I build my
cardiovascular system. I voluntarily agree to engage in a physical fitness program. The
activities included in the exercise program are founded on my cardiorespiratory and muscular
fitness. I understand that I may stop at any point during the exercise program should I feel

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fatigued or experience any other discomfort. A trained fitness trainer will be there to guide
me through the exercise program.

Attendant’s Risk and Discomfort

I have been given enough information that pertains to the risks of the exercise. I
understand that despite its designation as a Class 1 recommendation in secondary prevention
of the various complications associated with cardiovascular disorders, cardiac rehabilitation
application should be regulated to prevent any adverse events that may be detrimental to the
individual. I understand several adverse events have been implicated in the disproportionate
utilization of cardiac rehabilitation. Such events among inpatient patients second or third-
degree heart block, ventricular arrhythmias, angina, marked shortness of breath, and
ischemia, among others (Kincl et al., 2018). All these effects have detrimental effects and
often necessitates discontinuation of the exercise program.

Responsibilities of the Participant

I understand that during the rehabilitation, I will be involved in monitoring my health
status and functionality. A particularly concerning effect is the propensity to develop various
adverse events in the middle of these exercising processes. These adverse events may be
triggered by the exercise process itself. Positive chronotropic as a consequence of exercise
have been implicated in the development of certain secondary events such as cerebrovascular
accidents as well as myocardial infarction among cardiac patients (Kincl et al., 2018).

It is, therefore, my responsibility to be always alert to my situation and detect
whenever I am getting closer to my tip-off points to avoid tipping off (Mohammed &
Shabana, 2018). I also need to share any information about my current status of health as well
as any other information that may affect my functionalities. By sharing such information as to

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how I currently feel, my response to the medications I may be taking, comorbidities, and my
medical history, I may prevent any deleterious effect that may have arisen from these
procedures as a consequence of my health status.

Benefits to be Expected

I understand that the exercise program has proven to be beneficial. These pieces of
training have been found to confer considerable benefits to the patient population affected by
these diseases. They improve the clinical outcomes by reducing the number of hospital
admissions as well as prevent the development of complications in heart failure (Kincl et al.,
2018). They also improve the quality of life of these patients by enhancing their exercise
capacity, central hemodynamic functionalities, vascular functionalities, and muscular
function, among others. Exercise also produces considerable benefits in other cardiovascular
disorders such as cerebrovascular accidents, coronary artery diseases, and peripheral vascular
diseases by improving exercise abilities and prevention of secondary events that may be fatal.

Inquiries

I agree to raise questions and concerns that I may have concerning the exercise
program. I will also ask for repeat demonstrations to avoid sustaining injuries. I understand
that the prescriber has to explain to the patients the entire process of cardiac rehabilitation, its
expected outcomes, its significance as well as all the mechanisms that will be utilized. In case
of any ambiguity, I will seek the necessary clarification.

Use of Medical Records

I understand the information acquired during the personal fitness training will be
treated as privileged information and will therefore be confidential. The information will be
safeguarded and will not be accessed by unauthorized persons.

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Freedom of Consent

I hereby consent to voluntarily sign up for a cardiac rehabilitation process as a non-
pharmacological intervention to the management of my cardiovascular disease process. I
grant this permission having understood the potential adverse events that are apparent as well
as the benefits presented therein. I also acknowledge the role I have to play before and during
this process for the attainment of the stated goals and objectives. Having had the opportunity
to thoroughly interrogate the process and its mechanisms, I am very confident in it and do
hereby consent to sign up for the process.

Date Signature of the patient

Date Signature of witness

Date Signature of the trainer

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References

Kincl, V., Panovský, R., Máchal, J., Jančík, J., Kukla, P., & Dobšák, P. (2018). The long-
term effects of individual cardiac rehabilitation in patients with coronary artery
disease. Cor Et Vasa, 60(4), e361-e366. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crvasa.2018.03.005

Mohammed, H. G., & Shabana, A. M. (2018). Effect of cardiac rehabilitation on
cardiovascular risk factors in chronic heart failure patients. The Egyptian heart
journal : (EHJ): official bulletin of the Egyptian Society of Cardiology, 70(2), 77–82.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ehj.2018.02.004