Italian-translated EAU video for informed consent in PCNL: enhancing patient understanding and reducing anxiety: a...

In today's digital age, more and more patients are turning to online platforms to gather information about medical treatments. However, the trustworthiness of this information can often be a bit shaky. This study sets out to compare the effectiveness of a video informed consent (VIC) with the traditional written informed consent (WIC) for patients preparing for Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL).

To conduct the study, we used the EAU patient information video, which was translated into Italian, including explanations of potential complications. From January 2022 to January 2024, we enrolled all PCNL patients from two different institutions. Each patient received both a WIC and a VIC regarding PCNL. Afterward, they filled out a pre-designed Likert scale questionnaire to evaluate: (1) comprehension; (2) satisfaction; and (3) simplicity, with scores ranging from 1 to 10. Additionally, we administered the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) questionnaire to assess each patient's anxiety levels before the procedure. We used the Mann-Whitney U test to analyze the differences in scores between the WIC and VIC (continuous variables).

Our multicenter cohort included 148 patients, resulting in 296 questionnaires evaluated for both the paper and video-based consent. The average comprehension score ± standard deviation (SD) was 6.4 ± 0.68 for the WIC group, while the VIC group scored 9.0 ± 0.71. For satisfaction, the WIC group had a mean score of 6.6 ± 0.55, compared to 8.8 ± 0.9 for the VIC. The simplicity scores were 6.2 ± 0.65 for the WIC and 8.9 ± 0.45 for the VIC (all p < 0.001). The STAI results showed a significant drop in preoperative anxiety levels after patients watched the video, reflected in both the mean and median scores.

video consent proved to be significantly more appreciated by patients across all evaluated areas compared to traditional consent, achieving an impressive overall satisfaction score of 8.9 out of 10, suggesting a bright future ahead.