title: Multimedia support for improving preoperative patient education: a randomized controlled trial using the example of radical prostatectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Growing evidence supports the use of multimedia presentations for informing patients. Therefore, we supported preoperative education by adding a multimedia tool and examined the effects in a randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  We randomized German-speaking patients scheduled for radical prostatectomy at our center to receive either a multimedia-supported (MME) or a standard education (SE). Outcomes were measured in a structured interview. Primary outcome was patient satisfaction. In addition, we applied validated instruments to determine anxiety and measures of decision-making. Results were given by mean and standard deviation. For comparison of groups we used t test and chi-square test. For an explorative analysis we applied multivariate logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We randomized 203 patients to receive MME (n=102) or SE (n=101). Complete satisfaction with preoperative education was more frequent in the MME group (69 vs 52%, p=.016) and patients after MME reported more questions (5.7 vs 4.2, p=.018). There was no difference concerning the duration of talks and the number of recalled risks. However, perceived knowledge was higher after MME (1.3 vs 1.6, p=.037). Anxiety and measures of decision-making were comparable. Patients judged the multimedia tool very positive, and 74% of the MME group thought that their preoperative education had been superior to SE.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Multimedia support should be considered worthwhile for improving the informed consent process before surgery (www.germanctr.de; DRKS00000096).
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany. johannes.huber@med.uni-heidelberg.de
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ihrig
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yass
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bruckner
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: Christian G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.forename: Beryl
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Konyango
authors.forename: Novica
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lozankovski
authors.forename: Regina J F
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Stredele
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moll
authors.forename: Meike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Sascha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pahernik
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hohenfellner
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D003657:Decision Making; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019212:Multimedia; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D057234:Preoperative Period; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards; D013997:Time Factors