Patient information for liver biopsy: impact of a video movie.
OBJECTIVE
The information given to patients before a medical procedure is usually delivered verbally and in the form of a written document. Viewing a video movie about the procedure might be helpful in improving the quality of patient information and thus contributed to reduce patient anxiety. The aim of this prospective study on the methods used to deliver information to patients scheduled for liver biopsy was to determine, in comparison with standard information delivery, the impact on anxiety and understanding of additional information provided by a video movie.


METHODS
Patients included in this study were scheduled for liver biopsy. Three days before the procedure, a physician informed the patients about liver biopsy and gave them a written information document. After this standard information delivery, the patients were randomly assigned to two groups, to view or not a video movie illustrating liver biopsy and recalling the information provided in the information document. Anxiety was measured after the information visit and just before the biopsy procedure using Spielberger's self-administered STAI-Y questionnaire. Patient understanding of and satisfaction with the information received were evaluated respectively before and after the procedure.


RESULTS
Among the 67 patients retained for analysis, 33 viewed the information video and 34 did not. The level of anxiety measured at the information visit and before liver biopsy was similar in the two groups (38.8 and 37.4 with video versus 38.9 and 40.1 without video). The patients had an excellent understanding of the information received (12.3/14 with video; 12.7/14 without video) and were well satisfied with the information received.


CONCLUSIONS
The patients understood and were well satisfied with the information received about liver biopsy. Complementary information in the form of a video movie had no effect on patient anxiety.
Obled
Stéphane
S
Service d'Hépato-Gastroentérologie, CHU Nîmes, Cedex. stephane.obled@chu-nimes.fr
Melki
Marianne
M
Coelho
Jessica
J
Coudeyre
Emmanuel
E
Arpurt
Jean-Pierre
JP
Pouderoux
Philippe
P
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D003142:Communication; D032882:Comprehension; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D009040:Motion Pictures; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014743:Videotape Recording; D014956:Writing