title: Improving health literacy: use of an informational brochure improves parents' understanding of their child's fluoroscopic examination.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine parents' knowledge about pediatric fluoroscopic procedures and potential risk from ionizing radiation before and after being given an informational brochure.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed responses from 120 randomly selected participants who were parents or guardians of pediatric patients undergoing diagnostic fluoroscopic examinations. A questionnaire assessed participants' knowledge of the procedure, radiation exposure, and whether their child had a prior examination before and after receiving an informational brochure. In a feedback survey, participants rated the brochure. A repeated measures mixed model was used to evaluate the effect of the brochure on the participants' knowledge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participant demographics were women (79%), English speaking (99%), white (90%), and education higher than 12th grade (76%). The median age of patients undergoing the fluoroscopic examination was 4 years. Participant knowledge increased (p < 0.0001) between pre- and postbrochure (least-squares means) for those without a previous examination from 38.3 to 63.4 (total test score) and from 46.3 to 61.8 for those with a prior examination. The proportion of correct answers was higher (p < 0.0001) postbrochure compared with pre-brochure in areas of examination name (99% vs 93%), procedure details (97% vs 87%); use of radiation (100% vs 68%), and radiation dose comparison (79% vs 25%). Overall, 99% (119/120) rated the brochure "good" or "great" (p < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An informational brochure given to participants before their child's fluoroscopic procedure improved their knowledge of the examination and radiation exposure. No participants refused their child's examination.
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH.
authors.forename: Robyn D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Gebhard
authors.forename: Marilyn J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Goske
authors.forename: Shelia R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Salisbury
authors.forename: A Catherine
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Leopard
authors.forename: Dianne M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Hater
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D054626:Consumer Health Information / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D057220:Health Literacy / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009820:Ohio; D010174:Pamphlets; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education*; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education; D011871:Radiology / Q000193:education* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: children; communication; fluoroscopy; patient education; radiation protection