Caregivers' Knowledge of Emergency Department Discharge Instructions Improves With the Use of Video

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Evaluation of Video Discharge Instructions in Improving Understanding
• Interventions: Other: Standard written discharge instructions; Other: Video Discharge Instructions

• Registration Number: NCT01630265
• Lead Sponsor: Augusta University

Brief Summary

Previous studies demonstrate that patients often have difficulty understanding their discharge instructions. Video discharge instructions have the potential to mitigate factors such as illiteracy and limited physician time, which may affect comprehension. Our goal is to determine if adding video discharge instructions affects caregivers' understanding of their child's emergency department (ED) visit, plan and follow-up.

Detailed Description

Caregivers of patients, age 29 days to 18 years, with a diagnosis of fever, vomiting or diarrhea, and wheezing or asthma were randomized into written or video discharge instruction groups. In the ED, caregivers read standard written discharge instructions or watched a 3-minute video based on their child's diagnosis. They were then asked questions regarding information covered in these instructions. After completing the 20-point questionnaire, standard discharge procedure was followed. Caregivers were contacted by phone 2-5 days after discharge for a follow-up questionnaire. Usefulness of the discharge instructions was also assessed.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2010-04
• Primary Completion: 2010-06
• Study Completion: 2010-06
• Status Verified: 2012-06
• Study First Submitted: 2012-06-23
• Study First Submitted QC: 2012-06-27
• Last Update Submitted: 2012-06-27
• Study First Posted: 2012-06-28
• Last Update Posted: 2012-06-28

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 436

Inclusion Criteria

• caregivers of pediatric patients age 29 days to 18 years old diagnosed with wheezing or asthma exacerbation, fever, or vomiting and/or diarrhea.

Exclusion Criteria

• Caregivers of patients who were critical in the ED,
• Admitted to the hospital, or given an alternate diagnosis prior to discharge were excluded from the study.
• Also, non-English speaking caregivers were excluded.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Written Discharge Instructions	Standard written discharge instructions	Group of caregivers who read written discharge instructions that are the standard discharge instructions given in our pediatric ED
Video Discharge Instructions	Video Discharge Instructions	Group of caregivers who watched the 3-minute video covering the information in the standard written discharge instructions

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Knowledge about the child's diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care.	up to 5 days	After reading standard written discharge instructions or watching a 3 minute video covering the information in the written discharge instructions, a questionnaire was completed by each caregiver. Knowledge was assessed based on the number of correct responses given by each caregiver at the time of ED discharge and 2-5 days post-discharge.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Caregiver satisfaction with their discharge instructions	Satisfaction will be assessed at two time points within 5 days of being evaluated in the Emergency Department	Caregivers either read standard written discharge instructions or watched a 3 minute video covering the information in the discharge instructions. Caregivers were then asked to rate their satisfaction with the discharge instructions using a 5-point Likert scale.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Medical College of Georgia; 🇺🇸 Augusta, Georgia, United States