Understanding Percutaneous Cholangioscopy: Designing and Evaluating Novel Multimedia Tools for Patients and Physicians
Embargo until
Date
2022-03-29
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Johns Hopkins University
Abstract
Percutaneous cholangioscopy is a minimally invasive interventional radiology (IR) procedure that can be an alternative treatment for patients with complex gallstones who are not candidates for traditional surgical intervention. Interventional radiologists anecdotally find that few patients and referring physicians are familiar with this procedure, precluding some patients from this treatment option.
With the paucity of accessible educational materials on this topic, we created a patient education pamphlet and video animation to explain percutaneous cholangioscopy to both patients and referring physicians. We ran a pilot study to compare a text-only explanation of the procedure against a text and images explanation. Learning was assessed through pre/post-testing and engagement was measured using Likert-scale surveys. We recruited family and friends (non-physician group) to represent our intended patient population and received 19 total responses. We also reached out to 20 IR residents (physician group) as our representative referring physician population and received 12 responses.
To analyze our data, we performed f-tests and t-tests to check for differences in pre/post test scores and engagement survey scores. The pilot survey showed that both text-only explanations and text with images explanations improved test scores in the non-physician group, and there was no significant difference in their final scores. The physician group scored high regardless of intervention. In both the physician and non-physician groups, a majority of participants preferred the explanation of percutaneous cholangioscopy that included visuals aids. The most common feedback we received pertained to the value of learning from our visuals or requesting visuals be added if they did not receive any.
Our pilot test suggests the importance of including visuals in the explanation of new procedures such as percutaneous cholangioscopy. Next, we will investigate this further through an IRB-approved study planned to test larger samples of patients of the procedure and possible referring physicians. Our study could inform best practices for developing patient education materials in interventional radiology. Additionally, the multimedia we create will be made available online to help raise awareness of percutaneous cholangioscopy and help improve understanding of the procedure in both patients and physicians.
Description
Keywords
patient education, multimedia, animation, interventional radiology, gallstones, cholelithiasis, percutaneous cholangioscopy