ABSTRACT
In this article, the effectiveness of an instructional videotape for newly admitted hospitalized psychiatric patients is discussed and evaluated. It is suggested that by using 'actors' with whom the patient is familiar (hospital staff), the educational and therapeutic benefit of the video is enhanced. This paper provides a method for pre-production planning of an effective videotape based on a four-part model. In this model, the educational subject matter is divided into four categories; facts, procedures, support, and mastery. An attempt is made to match various styles of presentation by each member of the treatment team to the nature of the part being presented. The short attention span common to newly admitted depressed patients, for example, is remedied by the use of concise messages delivered by each treatment team member. Although videotapes are not a substitute for one-to-one professional interaction, they can provide some basic understanding of the therapeutic environment and allay some of the fears that often plague the newly admitted patient. This paper also demonstrates how the use of videotaped instruction allows the treatment team to administer organized information using unlicensed personnel or the patient himself, thus conserving the professional staff's time.
