Prospective trial of a video educational tool for radiation oncology patients.

OBJECTIVES: Prospective assessment of the informational needs of radiation oncology patients and efficacy of an educational video in meeting them. METHODS: Subjects completed baseline self-administered questionnaires and subsequently viewed the patient education video. Post-testing was performed after initiation of therapy and subjects rated their satisfaction with the video, its relevance, and their emotional response. Analyses were performed with respect to patient and disease characteristics. RESULTS: Fifty-three subjects were enrolled and completed both before and after video measures. The mean age of participants was 58 years (range, 33 to 83). Pretreatment, >90% of patients reported specific information needs. One hundred percent of patients watched the video and 77% rated it as highly relevant. High levels of satisfaction (>90%) were reported with video information describing radiation and simulation. Older subjects (58 years and older) found video information significantly more relevant than those younger (55% versus 27%, P = 0.04) and rated greater satisfaction with side effect information (78% versus 41%, P = 0.006). Subjects with breast cancer exhibited a trend towards feeling better informed by the video. CONCLUSIONS: Radiation oncology patients reported informational needs unmet by standard educational measures. High levels of satisfaction were reported with video education. It promoted better understanding of radiotherapy. Older patients found the video to be significantly more relevant and informative.