BACKGROUND: Health literacy is critical for understanding complex medical problems and necessary for the well being of the patient. Printed educational materials (PM) have limitations in explaining the dynamics of a disease process. Multimedia formats may be useful for enhancing the educational process. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether a printed format or animation with commentary on a handheld personal computer (PC) is preferred as an educational tool by parents of a baby in the NICU. METHODS: PARENTS EVALUATED TWO FORMATS: A 1-page illustrated document from the American Heart Association explaining patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and animation with commentary on a handheld PC that explained the physiology of PDA in 1 minute. The reading grade level of the PM was 8.6 versus 18.6 for the audio portion of the animated presentation. Parents viewed each format and completed a four-item questionnaire. Parents rated both formats and indicated their preference as printed, animation, or both. RESULTS: Forty-six parents participated in the survey. Parents preferred animation over PM (50% vs. 17.4%. p = 0.02); 39.1% expressed that the animation was excellent; whereas 4.3% expressed that the PM was excellent (p<0.001). The order of presentation of formats, sex, age, and educational level of parents did not influence the method preferred (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Parents preferred animation on a small screen handheld PC despite a much higher language level. Because handheld PCs are portable and inexpensive, they can be used effectively at the bedside with low-cost animation to enhance understanding of complex disease conditions.
BACKGROUND: Health literacy is critical for understanding complex medical problems and necessary for the well being of the patient. Printed educational materials (PM) have limitations in explaining the dynamics of a disease process. Multimedia formats may be useful for enhancing the educational process. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether a printed format or animation with commentary on a handheld personal computer (PC) is preferred as an educational tool by parents of a baby in the NICU. METHODS: PARENTS EVALUATED TWO FORMATS: A 1-page illustrated document from the American Heart Association explaining patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and animation with commentary on a handheld PC that explained the physiology of PDA in 1 minute. The reading grade level of the PM was 8.6 versus 18.6 for the audio portion of the animated presentation. Parents viewed each format and completed a four-item questionnaire. Parents rated both formats and indicated their preference as printed, animation, or both. RESULTS: Forty-six parents participated in the survey. Parents preferred animation over PM (50% vs. 17.4%. p = 0.02); 39.1% expressed that the animation was excellent; whereas 4.3% expressed that the PM was excellent (p<0.001). The order of presentation of formats, sex, age, and educational level of parents did not influence the method preferred (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Parents preferred animation on a small screen handheld PC despite a much higher language level. Because handheld PCs are portable and inexpensive, they can be used effectively at the bedside with low-cost animation to enhance understanding of complex disease conditions.
Authors: Sid E O'Bryant; John A Lucas; Floyd B Willis; Glenn E Smith; Neill R Graff-Radford; Robert J Ivnik Journal: Arch Clin Neuropsychol Date: 2007-03-02 Impact factor: 2.813
Authors: Mary Ann Sevick; Beth Piraino; Susan Sereika; Terry Starrett; Catherine Bender; Judith Bernardini; Susan Stark; Lora E Burke Journal: J Ren Nutr Date: 2005-07 Impact factor: 3.655
Authors: Y Ma; B C Olendzki; D Chiriboga; M Rosal; E Sinagra; S Crawford; A R Hafner; S L Pagoto; R P Magner; I S Ockene Journal: Eur J Clin Nutr Date: 2006-05-17 Impact factor: 4.016