Effects of Video Discharge Instructions on Patient Understanding: A Prospective, Randomized Trial

Previous studies demonstrated that patients have difficulty understanding and retaining discharge instructions due to the lack of time spent counseling patients and low health literacy rates. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of video instructions on patient understanding of their discharge instructions. This was a prospective, randomized, controlled trial of a convenience sample conducted in a military hospital emergency department. Adult patients with a diagnosis of upper respiratory tract infection, pharyngitis, or gastroenteritis were included into the study. Investigators randomized subjects to either standard discharge procedures or standard discharge procedures plus video discharge instructions, using a random number generator. Ten minutes after receiving one of these 2 discharge education methods, subjects demonstrated their knowledge of their discharge instructions using a predefined 5-question, multiple-choice questionnaire. From October 1, 2015, to January 8, 2016, a total of 60 subjects volunteered to participate in the study. Zero subjects were excluded, and all subjects completed the study protocol. Baseline characteristics between groups were not significantly different (30 video discharge instructions and 30 standard discharge instructions). We found a significant difference between groups with respect to discharge instructions knowledge in favor of the video discharge instructions group (4.53 vs. 4; p = 0.009). Video discharge instructions, used as an adjunct to standard verbal and written discharge methods, improved patient understanding and retention of their discharge instructions.