Personalized Video Education in Surgical Consent: Lessons from a Diverse Safety-Net Population.
Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety
|April 2, 2026
Summary
Customized surgical videos enhance patient understanding of treatment options and risks. However, language disparities highlight the need for improved educational resources for Spanish-speaking patients to ensure equitable care.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Surgical Patient Education
- Shared Decision-Making
Background:
- Shared decision-making (SDM) relies heavily on patient education.
- This study investigates the efficacy of customized videos as a supplement to traditional surgical consent processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of customized video education on surgical consent procedures.
- To evaluate patient satisfaction and shared decision-making using the CollaboRATE scale.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study at a California safety-net hospital (August 2023 - January 2025).
- Patients received customized, language-preferred educational videos post-consultation.
- Evaluation included the CollaboRATE scale and satisfaction questionnaires.
Main Results:
- 204 patients participated (134 English, 70 Spanish speakers).
- Both groups preferred video education over written materials (94.8% EN, 97.1% SP).
- English speakers demonstrated higher understanding of treatment options, benefits, and risks compared to Spanish speakers.
Conclusions:
- Customized surgical videos improve patient comprehension of treatment details.
- Significant disparities in understanding were observed between English and Spanish speakers.
- Targeted educational improvements are needed for Spanish-speaking patients to ensure health equity.
