Effects of an individualized multimedia computer program for health education in patients with a recent minor stroke or transient ischemic attack - a randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
Transient ischemic attack (TIA) and stroke patients often show a striking lack of knowledge about their disease. We developed a computer program that provided health education fitting the educational level, risk profile and symptoms of patients and evaluated it in a randomized controlled trial.


METHODS
Transient ischemic attack or minor stroke patients were allocated to health education by a physician (n = 32) or to a combination of education by a physician and the computer program (n = 33). Knowledge was tested by means of a questionnaire at 1 and 12 weeks after inclusion. The maximum possible score was 71 points.


RESULTS
Overall knowledge was low - the mean score was 43.6 at 1 week and 42.0 points at 12 weeks for both the groups. The intervention group had slightly better scores at 1 week after using the computer program, 45.4 vs 41.5 (P = 0.09), with the difference increasing to 4.3 points after (post-hoc) adjustment for age and level of education (P = 0.06). After 12 weeks, the score in the intervention group dropped significantly to 42.0 points (P = 0.05), and was no longer different from the standard group.


CONCLUSIONS
This study did not show a lasting effect of health education by an individualized computer program on the knowledge of TIA and minor stroke patients.
Maasland
E
E
Department of Neurology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. e.maasland@erasmusmc.nl
Koudstaal
P J
PJ
Habbema
J D F
JD
Dippel
D W J
DW
D000368:Aged; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019212:Multimedia; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D012984:Software; D020521:Stroke / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome