Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 3, 2026
Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty
Published on: July 5, 2011
Video-enhanced informed consent improves patient comprehension in reverse total shoulder arthroplasty: a randomized
Paul D Scheidegger1, Franziska C S Altorfer1, Bettina Hochreiter1
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Zürich, Balgrist University Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland.
Background:
Informed consent for reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA) requires thorough patient understanding, yet only 29% of patients adequately comprehend pre-operative information. This study evaluated whether pre-operative educational videos enhance patient comprehension compared to standard verbal explanations alone and assessed impact on consultation time and demographic variations.
Methods:
This prospective randomized controlled trial included 60 patients undergoing rTSA, assigned 1:1 to video education or control groups. The video group viewed a 2-minute explanatory video before informed consent discussion; the control group received only verbal discussion. Afterward, all participants completed a 7-question test on procedural knowledge, benefits, and risks.
Results:
The video education group achieved significantly higher scores (5.70/7) compared to controls (4.67/7) (P = .002). Significant improvements were observed across all subgroups. Vulnerable subgroups, including older (P = .02), lower-educated (P = .007) participants, and non-native speakers (P = .04), also demonstrated benefit.
Conclusion:
An explanatory video before informed consent discussion significantly improved procedural comprehension compared to standard discussion alone. Vulnerable subgroups, older participants, non-native speakers, and those with lower educational attainment showed particular benefit. These findings support integrating video education into standard pre-operative rTSA protocols.