Exploring the Efficacy of Utilising Video and Multimedia Communication for Adult and Elderly Service Users instead of Written Communication: A Systematic Review

Abstract

It is currently noticed that video or written services tool, have enhanced health care professionals’ communication with patients to allow patients to participate proactively in their own recoveries. Evidence supports this view has been largely used to increase part of health care professional-to-patient communication. Numerous literatures have helped to highlight the potential uses. However, there are inconsistence results around the world about the evidence behind choosing written communication or video/multimedia communication for adult and older adult service users that contribute to enhance patient outcomes. Therefore, in this paper we report the results of a systematic review that evaluates the efficacy of video-based patient education compared to written-based education in enhancing patient outcomes such as knowledge and satisfaction. This study used a systematic review to search for randomised controlled trials (RCT). Four databases were systematically searched. Our results demonstrate that all of the studies reported knowledge as a primary health outcome, while two studies reported satisfaction as a secondary outcome. It was established that the video intervention was more effective than the written intervention in terms of increasing the knowledge levels of adults and elderly service users. This study also have implications for understanding that educational material needs to be individualised for patient’s needs, literacy and preference, in order to provide personalised care and transfers the necessary knowledge