Evaluation of a closed circuit television patient education program: structure, process and outcome

Few planners of a closed circuit television (CCTV) patient-education program have shared the evaluation of their program with other health agencies who are planning or considering such programs. This paper addresses the evaluation of the structure and process of developing and implementing such a program, and analyzes the outcome and cost effectiveness of one CCTV program. Two separate studies of patients at this hospital revealed that 6.5% and 1.7% of patients viewed the CCTV channel. The authors examined the possible factors contributing to the poor viewing habits of patients: (1) technical malfunctions, (2) low patient awareness, (3) minimal staff promotion, (4) nature of patient population. Planning processes and program structure are also examined to determine how they contributed to the outcomes. For example, incorrect planning assumptions and marketing strategies and failure to predict system barriers were possible factors. Finally, the costs involved in planning, implementing and monitoring the CCTV program are examined.