Delivery of information to orthodontic patients using social media

DesignRandomised controlled trial in a hospital setting.InterventionBoth groups were given standard verbal and written information for patients receiving orthodontic treatment. In addition, patients in the intervention group received e-mails asking them to view a specifically designed YouTube unlisted video accessible through a web link in the e-mail. All patients were administered with a baseline questionnaire at bond-up which was repeated at six weeks.Outcome measureChange in question score from baseline.ResultsSixty-seven patients were randomised (control = 34; intervention = 34). Seven patients were lost to follow-up; four in the control and three in intervention group. In all the participants watched the video 90 times. Participants in the intervention group scored, on average, almost one point higher on the second questionnaire than did those in the control group (95% CI for the difference, 0.305-1.602; P = 0.005). Ethnicity had a statistically significant effect on improvement in knowledge, but sex did not.ConclusionsPresenting audiovisual information through the YouTube web site to orthodontic patients resulted in a significant improvement in patient knowledge. Supplementation of verbal and written patient information with audiovisual information via the internet is therefore worthy of consideration.