Multimedia Patient Education Research Articles

Use of Videos as Supplemental Education Tools Across the Cancer Trajectory.

Patients who are dealing with life changes as a result of a cancer diagnosis often search for information about the disease and its treatment. Knowledge gained from this information helps patients with cancer during survivorship and improves their active participation with the healthcare team. To provide patients with the information they need, healthcare providers must offer various methods for the delivery of educational materials. The use of video as a delivery mechanism should be considered as one option for patient content acquisition. This article describes the use of videos as supplemental education tools before, during, or after one-on-one patient teaching interactions. A literature review was performed that focused on locating, reviewing, and synthesizing published data from clinical studies related to the use of video in patient education. Videos deliver material in a way that is flexible and often familiar to patients. For example, delivery can occur via smartphone, electronic health record, computer, DVD, or television, and it does not require reading or a high level of literacy. Healthcare providers in oncology settings should consider establishing a process for instructional video development as part of a multimedia patient education library.

Web-Based Education Prior to Knee Arthroscopy Enhances Informed Consent and Patient Knowledge Recall: A Prospective, Randomized Controlled Study.

Preoperative patient education is an important part of the informed consent process, and a perceived lack of information can lower patient satisfaction. We sought to evaluate the effect of a web-based multimedia patient education tool on the perioperative experience of patients undergoing first-time knee arthroscopy for a meniscal tear. Adult patients undergoing knee arthroscopy for the first time for a primary diagnosis of a meniscal tear were consecutively enrolled into the study from January 2014 through June 2014. Patients were equally randomized to a control group, who received standard preoperative counseling, or the intervention group, who completed a twenty-minute web-based multimedia tutorial in addition to standard counseling. The web-based tutorial covered relevant anatomy, pathology, and general perioperative instructions, and it was completed prior to the preoperative visit. Patients completed surveys that evaluated their preparedness for surgery and knowledge recall at the preoperative visit, on the day of surgery, and after the first postoperative visit. Sixty-four patients were enrolled, and fifty-five patients (86%; twenty-nine in the control group and twenty-six in the intervention group) with complete data sets were included in the analysis. Preoperatively, the intervention group felt significantly more informed about the surgery and more clearly understood the risks and benefits of, and alternatives to, the surgery (all p < 0.001). Postoperatively, the intervention group reported being significantly more satisfied with the perioperative education that they had received and felt more informed about their surgery and rehabilitation (p ≤ 0.05). Patients in the intervention group were significantly more likely to correctly answer questions regarding their surgical details at the first postoperative visit (p ≤ 0.03). Patients who completed the web-based tutorial had improved preoperative knowledge and preparedness as well as enhanced postoperative knowledge recall regarding their surgical procedure. The tutorial received high user satisfaction scores with low user burden scores and was an effective tool for enhancing the patients' perioperative experience.

Protect Your Heart: A Culture-Specific Multimedia Cardiovascular Health Education Program

South Asians, the second fastest growing racial/ethnic minority in the United States, have high rates of coronary heart disease. Few coronary heart disease prevention efforts target this population. The authors developed and tested a culture-specific, multimedia coronary heart disease prevention education program in English and Hindi for South Asians. Participants were recruited from community organizations in Chicago, Illinois, between June and October of 2011. Bilingual interviewers used questionnaires to assess participants’ knowledge and perceptions before and after the patient education program. The change from pretest score to posttest score was calculated using a paired t test. Linear regression was used to determine the association between posttest scores and education and language. Participants’ (N = 112) average age was 41 years, 67% had more than a high school education, and 50% spoke Hindi. Participants’ mean pretest score was 15 (SD = 4). After the patient education program, posttest scores increased significantly among all participants (posttest score = 24, SD = 4), including those with limited English proficiency. Lower education was associated with a lower posttest score (β = −2.2, 95% CI [–0.68, −3.83]) in adjusted regression. A culture-specific, multimedia patient education program significantly improved knowledge and perceptions about coronary heart disease prevention among South Asian immigrants. Culturally salient multimedia education may be an effective and engaging way to deliver health information to diverse patient populations.

Tablet-based education to reduce depression-related stigma

Objectives: This study investigated the efficacy of a tablet-based multimedia education application, the Project Not Alone Depression Module, in improving depression literacy and reducing depression stigma among a community-based mental health clinic population. Methods: A total of 93 participants completed either a tablet-based multimedia education or a print education module containing the same content on depression. Primary outcomes were changes in depression literacy as measured by a knowledge quiz and stigma as measured by the Depression Stigma Scale administered before and after the education intervention. Secondary outcomes included participant preference, ease of use, and likeliness to discuss topic with a physician. Results: In comparison to print education, tablet-based multimedia education significantly increased depression-related knowledge and reduced depression stigma ( p &lt; .05). Among all participants, a reduction in the personal stigma score was correlated with an increase in knowledge score ( p &lt; .05). Participants preferred the tablet-based module to a human health educator ( p &lt; .05). Conclusion: With advantages of scalability, user preference, and efficacy in improving depression literacy and stigma, tablet-based multimedia education has the potential to improve the health outcomes of mental health clinic populations. Although the study findings are limited by small sample size and lack of randomisation, the results are encouraging for future research and development in tablet-based multimedia patient education.

Education material for heart failure patients: what works and what does not?

Patient education is an important element of care, but evidence with regard to education material is not always apparent, as it is intertwined with educational strategies as components of heart failure management programs. Difficulties have arisen in determining the effectiveness of particular education strategies, as multiple strategies are commonly bundled together and packaged within research protocols. To further complicate this issue, the bundles are diverse, lack precision in describing their components, and report different outcomes. Despite these difficulties, clinicians can utilise a number of proven commonalities to deliver effective education: assessment of learning needs and style, verbal interaction with a healthcare professional, and a selection of multimedia patient education materials.

Multimedia Educational Interventions for Consumers about Prescribed and Over‐the‐Counter Medications

Keywords: medication skill acquisition; multimedia patient education; patient medication knowledge

Improving treatment with methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis—Development of a multimedia patient education program and the MiRAK, a new instrument to evaluate methotrexate-related knowledge

ObjectivesTo develop and test an evidence-based, multimedia patient education program (MPEP) about methotrexate (MTX) treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and a new measure of patient knowledge [Methotrexate in Rheumatoid Arthritis Knowledge test (MiRAK)]. MethodsThe content of the MPEP and MiRAK was guided by concept-mapping workshops with patients (N = 24), literature review, health professional, and expert linguistic input. The MPEP and MiRAK underwent multiple stages of testing and revision with patients and health professionals. The MiRAK was administered to RA patients (N = 169) and its properties examined using the Rasch analyses. A subset of respondents (N = 131) repeated the MiRAK to determine test–retest reliability. A before–after pilot study with patients who had recently started MTX (N = 31) tested responsiveness of the MiRAK and feasibility and acceptability of the MPEP. ResultsA DVD of 24-minutes duration was produced that presents detailed, evidence-based information about MTX. The Rasch analyses of the 60 MiRAK items revealed that these could be summated into a single score. The MiRAK had good model fit, supporting internal construct validity, good internal consistency (person separation index; 0.84), test–retest reliability (ICC; 0.89), and ability to detect change (ES; 2.38). The before–after study suggested that patients could self-administer the MPEP, with the majority finding it informative and easy to use. ConclusionsWe developed a MPEP about MTX treatment for RA, which was found to be user-friendly and easily implementable. The MiRAK is a new scale, testing a broad spectrum of MTX knowledge. Analyses revealed strong evidence for its validity and reliability.

Cost effectiveness of patient education for the prevention of falls in hospital: economic evaluation from a randomized controlled trial.

BackgroundFalls are one of the most frequently occurring adverse events that impact upon the recovery of older hospital inpatients. Falls can threaten both immediate and longer-term health and independence. There is need to identify cost-effective means for preventing falls in hospitals. Hospital-based falls prevention interventions tested in randomized trials have not yet been subjected to economic evaluation.MethodsIncremental cost-effectiveness analysis was undertaken from the health service provider perspective, over the period of hospitalization (time horizon) using the Australian Dollar (A$) at 2008 values. Analyses were based on data from a randomized trial among n = 1,206 acute and rehabilitation inpatients. Decision tree modeling with three-way sensitivity analyses were conducted using burden of disease estimates developed from trial data and previous research. The intervention was a multimedia patient education program provided with trained health professional follow-up shown to reduce falls among cognitively intact hospital patients.ResultsThe short-term cost to a health service of one cognitively intact patient being a faller could be as high as A$14,591 (2008). The education program cost A$526 (2008) to prevent one cognitively intact patient becoming a faller and A$294 (2008) to prevent one fall based on primary trial data. These estimates were unstable due to high variability in the hospital costs accrued by individual patients involved in the trial. There was a 52% probability the complete program was both more effective and less costly (from the health service perspective) than providing usual care alone. Decision tree modeling sensitivity analyses identified that when provided in real life contexts, the program would be both more effective in preventing falls among cognitively intact inpatients and cost saving where the proportion of these patients who would otherwise fall under usual care conditions is at least 4.0%.ConclusionsThis economic evaluation was designed to assist health care providers decide in what circumstances this intervention should be provided. If the proportion of cognitively intact patients falling on a ward under usual care conditions is 4% or greater, then provision of the complete program in addition to usual care will likely both prevent falls and reduce costs for a health service.Trial registrationAustralia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Register: ACTRN12608000015347.

SCI-U: E-learning for patient education in spinal cord injury rehabilitation

Background/objectivesTo develop an online patient education resource for use in spinal cord injury rehabilitation.ParticipantsThe development process involved more than 100 subject-matter experts (SMEs) (rehabilitation professionals and consumers) from across Canada. Preliminary evaluation was conducted with 25 end-users.MethodsAn iterative development process was coordinated by a project team; SMEs (including patients) developed the content in working groups using wiki-based tools. Multiple rounds of feedback based on early prototypes helped improve the courses during development.ResultsFive courses were created, each featuring more than 45 minutes of video content and hundreds of media assets. Preliminary evaluation results indicate that users were satisfied by the courses and perceived them to be effective.ConclusionsThis is an effective process for developing multimedia patient education resources; the involvement of patients in all parts of the process was particularly helpful. Future work will focus on implementation, integration into clinical practice and other delivery formats (smart phones, tablets).

Multimedia patient education to assist the informed consent process for knee arthroscopy (Re: ANZ J. Surg. 2011; 81: 176-80)

Multimedia patient education to assist the informed consent process for knee arthroscopy (Re: ANZ J. Surg. 2011; 81: 176-80)

Patient Education to Prevent Falls Among Older Hospital Inpatients

Falls are a common adverse event during hospitalization of older adults, and few interventions have been shown to prevent them. This study was a 3-group randomized trial to evaluate the efficacy of 2 forms of multimedia patient education compared with usual care for the prevention of in-hospital falls. Older hospital patients (n = 1206) admitted to a mixture of acute (orthopedic, respiratory, and medical) and subacute (geriatric and neurorehabilitation) hospital wards at 2 Australian hospitals were recruited between January 2008 and April 2009. The interventions were a multimedia patient education program based on the health-belief model combined with trained health professional follow-up (complete program), multi-media patient education materials alone (materials only), and usual care (control). Falls data were collected by blinded research assistants by reviewing hospital incident reports, hand searching medical records, and conducting weekly patient interviews. Rates of falls per 1000 patient-days did not differ significantly between groups (control, 9.27; materials only, 8.61; and complete program, 7.63). However, there was a significant interaction between the intervention and presence of cognitive impairment. Falls were less frequent among cognitively intact patients in the complete program group (4.01 per 1000 patient-days) than among cognitively intact patients in the materials-only group (8.18 per 1000 patient-days) (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.51; 95% confidence interval, 0.28-0.93]) and control group (8.72 per 1000 patient-days) (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.43; 95% confidence interval, 0.24-0.78). Multimedia patient education with trained health professional follow-up reduced falls among patients with intact cognitive function admitted to a range of hospital wards. Trial Registration anzctr.org.au Identifier: ACTRN12608000015347.

Multimedia patient education to assist the informed consent process for knee arthroscopy

In contemporary clinical practice, the ability for orthopaedic surgeons to obtain true 'informed consent' is becoming increasingly difficult. This problem has been driven by factors including increased expectations of surgical outcome by patients and increasing complexity of surgical procedures. Surgical pamphlets and computer presentations have been advocated as ways of improving patient education, but evidence of their efficacy is limited. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of a computer-based multimedia (MM) presentation against standardized verbal consent and information pamphlets for patients considering knee arthroscopy surgery. A randomized, controlled prospective trial was conducted, comparing the efficacy of three methods of providing preoperative informed consent information to patients. Sixty-one patients were randomly allocated into MM, verbal consent or pamphlet groups 3-6 weeks prior to knee arthroscopy surgery. Information recall after the initial consent process was assessed by questionnaire. Retention of this information was again assessed by questionnaire at the time of surgery and 6 weeks after surgery. The MM group demonstrated a significantly greater proportion of correct responses, 98%, in the questionnaire at the time of consent, in comparison with 88% for verbal and 76% for pamphlet groups, with no difference in anxiety levels. Information was also better retained by the MM group up to 6 weeks after surgery. Patient satisfaction with information delivery was higher in the MM group. MM is an effective tool for aiding in the provision and retention of information during the informed consent process.

Improvement in Surgical Consent with a Preoperative Multimedia Patient Education Tool: A Pilot Study

Preoperative education and discussion is a crucial part of the surgeon-patient relationship. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of a multimedia education tool to improve patients' understanding when used as an adjunct to the usual verbal consent process regarding first metatarsophalangeal joint (MTPJ) arthrodesis surgery. Thirty-one patients were prospectively recruited. There were 24 female and seven male patients with an average age of 56 years. Well-rehearsed, standardized and thorough information regarding the surgery, its risks, benefits, and usual post-operative course were supplied verbally to each patient. Patient understanding was then assessed with a condition specific questionnaire. Following this, each completed a multimedia educational program and repeated the questionnaire, including supplementary questions regarding ease of understanding and satisfaction with the two methods. The patients answered 62% questions correctly before the multimedia presentation compared to 87% after it (p < 0.001). Patients rated the ease of understanding of the multimedia module as a median 9.3 cm along a 10-cm visual analogue scale and 9.1 cm when asked whether it contained the appropriate amount of information to make a decision about surgery. Ninety percent of patients considered that the multimedia tool answered their questions about surgery as well or better than the treating surgeon. This study demonstrated that incorporation of a computer-based, multimedia education tool into to the surgical consent process improved patient understanding of the risks, benefits and usual postoperative course following first MTPJ arthrodesis surgery.

A multimedia patient education program on colorectal cancer screening increases knowledge and willingness to consider screening among Hispanic/Latino patients

Objective To test a multimedia patient education program on colorectal cancer (CRC) screening that was designed specifically for the Hispanic/Latino community, and developed with input from community members. Methods A total of 270 Hispanic/Latino adults, age 50–80 years, participated in Spanish for all phases of this pretest–posttest design. Patients were randomly assigned to a version of the multimedia program that opened with either a positive or negative introductory appeal. Structured interviews assessed screening relevant knowledge (anatomy and key terms, screening options, and risk information), past screening behavior, willingness to consider screening options, intention to discuss CRC screening with the doctor, and reactions to the multimedia patient education program. Results The multimedia program significantly increased knowledge of anatomy and key terms (e.g., polyp), primary screening options (FOBT, flexible sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy), and risk information as well as willingness to consider screening ( p < .001 for all). No significant differences emerged between positive and negative introductory appeals on these measures, intention to discuss CRC screening with their doctor, or rating the multimedia program. Conclusion Multimedia tools developed with community input that are designed to present important health messages using graphics and audio can reach Hispanic/Latino adults across literacy levels and ethnic backgrounds. Additional research is needed to determine effects on actual screening behavior. Practice implications Despite promising results for engaging a difficult-to-reach audience, the multimedia program should not be considered a stand-alone intervention or a substitute for communication with physicians. Rather, it is a priming mechanism intended to prepare patients for productive discussions of CRC screening.

The Practical Application of Multimedia Technology to Facilitate the Education and Treatment of Patients With Plantar Fasciitis: A Pilot Study

This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of a multimedia patient education module when incorporated into the standard treatment protocol for patients diagnosed with plantar fasciitis. A thorough, standardized surgeon-patient education discourse took place following diagnosis. At the conclusion of the consultation, patients viewed the multimedia module. Questionnaires designed to assess understanding and satisfaction with information delivery were completed by patients following the consultation and again after viewing the module. Forty-one patients participated in the study. After viewing the module, patients achieved an average of 87% correct responses on the knowledge questionnaire, a significant improvement (P < .0001) over the 64% achieved following the surgeon-patient discourse. Ease of understanding of the information delivered by the module was rated significantly better (P < .0001) than the surgeon-patient discourse. Ninety-eight percent of patients indicated they felt well informed about plantar fasciitis following viewing the module compared with 68% following the surgeon-patient discourse. Sixty-three percent of patients indicated that the module best answered their questions, 7% preferred the surgeon, and 30% rated both equally. Multimedia plantar fasciitis educational material improved patient understanding of the standard treatment protocol and satisfaction with the information delivery in an orthopedic private practice.

Multimedia patient education in a Burn Centre

Multimedia patient education in a Burn Centre

The current and future role of the internet in patient education

The Internet technology known as the World Wide Web is rapidly emerging as the most powerful medium of mass communication this century and it can be harnessed to dispense global, cost-effective, high-quality, multimedia patient education material. This paper reviews how the Internet has progressed from delivering simple static, text-based material to sophisticated interactive Web sites based on CGI Technology. Interactive Web sites can be used to deliver health assessment questionnaires and Web-based decision-support systems can give patients advice on the emergency management of acute medical problems. The advantages and drawbacks of this new technology, including information regulation and quality are discussed. The role of the Hospital Intranet as a patient education resource is described. The paper concludes by illustrating how patients can appreciate the 3-D structure of bones and organs using virtual reality in a VRML Web environment.