title: The use of multimedia as an adjunct to the informed consent process for ankle ligament reconstruction surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obtaining "informed consent" is an integral aspect of surgery that can be fraught with difficulty. This study assessed the efficacy of a multimedia education tool in improving patients' understanding when used as an adjunct to the traditional verbal consent process regarding ankle lateral ligament reconstruction surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 56 patients (28 males and 28 females) were recruited with a mean age of 36 years. A standardized verbal discussion regarding surgical treatment was provided to each patient. Understanding was then assessed using a knowledge questionnaire. Subsequently, each patient observed a multimedia educational program following which the knowledge questionnaire was repeated. Additional supplementary questions were then given regarding the ease of understanding and satisfaction with the 2 methods of education delivery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients answered 75% of the questions correctly before the multimedia module compared with 88% after it (P < .001). Patients rated the ease of understanding and the amount of information provided by the module highly (9.5 cm and 9.0 cm on a 10-cm Visual Analogue Scale scale, respectively), and 61% of patients considered that the multimedia tool performed as well as the treating surgeon.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Multimedia tools used in sequence after a verbal consent resulted in improved patient understanding of pertinent information regarding ankle lateral ligament reconstruction surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapeutic Level II.
authors.affiliation: Foot and Ankle, Epworth Healthcare, Richmond, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Eldridge
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Batuyong
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Birks
authors.forename: Andrew D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Beischer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000601:surgery; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019212:Multimedia; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D055815:Young Adult