BACKGROUND: Coronary angiography and angioplasty entail both major and minor risks for patients. Patient information is therefore especially important because risks can be reduced if some basic preventive measures are adopted (e.g. allergic reactions), and potentially dangerous behaviours are avoided afterwards. A video-based presentation was conducted to improve patient information in our centre. The effectiveness of this new instrument, in addition to the standard information sheet, was assessed. METHODS: The video-based presentation was proposed to a sample of 108 consecutive patients, who had read the standard information sheet, before elective coronary angiography. Before and after watching the video, the patients were asked the same eight multiple-choice questions covering some important technical aspects of the interventions and precautions that were to be taken. All data were present in both the information sheet and the video. RESULTS: Out of 108 patients, 100 agreed to watch the video and answer the questions. Overall, the percentage of correct answers increased from 39% to 77% (P < 0.0001) after watching the video, with a reduction in 'don't know' answers from 53% to 10% (P < 0.0001), and a non-significant increase in wrong answers from 8% to 13% (P = 0.183). CONCLUSIONS: The video was shown to improve the knowledge of our patients about percutaneous coronary interventions, and was welcomed, especially because it made patients more familiar with both the environment of the cathlab and the technical aspects of the procedures.
BACKGROUND: Coronary angiography and angioplasty entail both major and minor risks for patients. Patient information is therefore especially important because risks can be reduced if some basic preventive measures are adopted (e.g. allergic reactions), and potentially dangerous behaviours are avoided afterwards. A video-based presentation was conducted to improve patient information in our centre. The effectiveness of this new instrument, in addition to the standard information sheet, was assessed. METHODS: The video-based presentation was proposed to a sample of 108 consecutive patients, who had read the standard information sheet, before elective coronary angiography. Before and after watching the video, the patients were asked the same eight multiple-choice questions covering some important technical aspects of the interventions and precautions that were to be taken. All data were present in both the information sheet and the video. RESULTS: Out of 108 patients, 100 agreed to watch the video and answer the questions. Overall, the percentage of correct answers increased from 39% to 77% (P < 0.0001) after watching the video, with a reduction in 'don't know' answers from 53% to 10% (P < 0.0001), and a non-significant increase in wrong answers from 8% to 13% (P = 0.183). CONCLUSIONS: The video was shown to improve the knowledge of our patients about percutaneous coronary interventions, and was welcomed, especially because it made patients more familiar with both the environment of the cathlab and the technical aspects of the procedures.