Impact of Video Education on Patient Knowledge, Anxiety, and Satisfaction in Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty: A Pilot...

PRéCIS:: In patients undergoing selective laser trabeculoplasty, preoperative video education did not improve patient knowledge regarding the procedure, decrease anxiety, or increase satisfaction, as these metrics were already favorable across all patients in this study.

To assess the effect of an educational video on patient knowledge, anxiety, and satisfaction at a selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) procedure visit.

This is a prospective, randomized trial. Patients at a single academic medical center completed a survey at their procedure visit for SLT; patients were randomized to view an educational video or no video before survey administration. Knowledge was assessed with a 10-item questionnaire. The 6-item State-Trait Anxiety Inventory scale (STAI-6) assessed anxiety (score >40 defined significant anxiety). Perceptions of visit quality were assessed using a Likert scale.

Twenty-two patients were randomized into video (n=11) and control (n=11) groups. No difference in knowledge was observed between groups (83.6% control vs. 82.7% video group, P=0.635). No patient had significant anxiety (STAI-6 range, 20 to 40, average 29) and scores were similar between groups (P=0.385). Overall, patients had positive perceptions of visit quality, and there was no significant difference between groups (P=0.999).

Patients undergoing SLT had high levels of knowledge, low levels of anxiety, and high levels of satisfaction. In this clinical setting, an educational video seemed to have no additional benefit on these metrics and thus, may be omitted. Further research may be directed toward optimizing patient education regarding SLT, particularly in settings with poor health literacy, limited resources, or limited access to glaucoma specialists.