Can a multimedia educational computer-based program on genital herpes teach patients about their disease?

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Patient education for genital herpes is time-intensive for clinicians.
• Multimedia interactive programs can supplement traditional patient education methods.
• Effective patient education is crucial for managing chronic sexually transmitted infections like genital herpes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a multimedia interactive computer program for educating patients about genital herpes.
• To assess patient satisfaction with the educational computer program.
• To determine if computer-based education can supplement clinician visits for genital herpes patients.

Main Methods:

• A multimedia interactive computer program was developed to educate patients about genital herpes.
• 428 patients seeking care for genital herpes or at risk for HSV acquisition participated.
• Knowledge was assessed using a 7-item questionnaire pre- and post-program; satisfaction was also surveyed.

Main Results:

• Significant improvement in herpes knowledge was observed post-program (P <.001).
• The percentage of patients answering all knowledge questions correctly increased from 20.1% to 32.9%.
• Patient satisfaction with the program was high, with a mean rating of 6.2 out of 7.

Conclusions:

• Computer-based education is an effective adjunct for teaching patients about genital herpes in physician offices.
• This educational approach leads to short-term knowledge gains regarding genital herpes.
• Such programs can aid in the management of chronic sexually transmitted infections.