Media and memory: the efficacy of video and print materials for promoting patient education about asthma.
OBJECTIVE
We examined the effects of presentation medium on immediate and delayed recall of information and assessed the effect of giving patients take-home materials after initial presentations.


METHODS
Primary-care patients received video-based, print-based or no asthma education about asthma symptoms and triggers and then answered knowledge-based questions. Print participants and half the video participants received take-home print materials. A week later, available participants completed the knowledge assessment again.


RESULTS
Participants receiving either intervention outperformed controls on immediate and delayed assessments (p<0.001). For symptom-related information, immediate performance did not significantly differ between print and video participants. A week later, receiving take-home print predicted better performance (p<0.05), as did self-reported review among recipients of take-home print (p<0.01). For content about inhaler usage, although video watchers outperformed print participants immediately after seeing the materials (p<0.001), a week later these two groups' performance did not significantly differ. Among participants given take-home materials, review predicted marginally better recall (p=0.06).


CONCLUSIONS
Video and print interventions can promote recall of health-related information. Additionally, reviewable materials, if they are utilized, may improve retention.


CONCLUSIONS
When creating educational tools, providers should consider how long information must be retained, its content, and the feasibility of providing tangible supporting materials.
Wilson
Elizabeth A H
EA
Division of General Internal Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. eahwilson@northwestern.edu
Park
Denise C
DC
Curtis
Laura M
LM
Cameron
Kenzie A
KA
Clayman
Marla L
ML
Makoul
Gregory
G
Vom Eigen
Keith
K
Wolf
Michael S
MS
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010174:Pamphlets; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013664:Teaching Materials / Q000592:standards; D014743:Videotape Recording