Multimedia in preoperative patient education for adults undergoing cancer surgery: A systematic review

The purpose of this systematic review was to determine whether adequate research evidence exists to support utilizing multimedia technology in the preoperative education of adult cancer patients.

A systematic search of Medline, CINAHL, Web of Science, and PsycINFO databases from 2010 through September 24, 2020, was performed. The review included quantitative studies that examined whether education delivered by multimedia impacted levels of anxiety, knowledge acquisition, satisfaction, and compliance. The research quality was evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tool specific to the study design.

The database search identified 529 scientific articles, of these nine studies met the eligibility criteria (n = 5 randomized controlled trials; n = 4 quasi-experimental studies). The education interventions included a variety of researcher-developed, multimedia modalities, consisting of video (n = 7), a computer program (n = 1), and a tablet application (n = 1). The methodological rigor varied among these studies. Multimedia patient education resulted in decreased anxiety and improved knowledge acquisition within groups; however, there was no significant difference when compared to traditional methods. Patients were also similarly satisfied and compliant with both education methods.

In all studies, the healthcare provider played a prominent role in both multimedia and traditional interventions, revealing the strong influence of the interpersonal connection in the delivery of preoperative education. Future research is needed to investigate whether more interactive technology could improve patient outcomes.