Providing video or computer-based programs to patients undergoing radiation therapy can improve patient knowledge and satisfaction while potentially reducing anxiety. A literature review identified 9 studies that assessed these educational interventions. The majority found increased patient knowledge and satisfaction with the interventions. Some studies also saw decreased patient anxiety. However, the programs need to be accessible and provide body-site specific information to be most effective. Larger and more targeted studies are still needed.

1. A Literature Review:
The Effects of Educating
Radiation Therapy Patient By Using
Video or Computer-Based Program
Presented by Eric Aditama

2. Overview
 Introduction
 Objective
 Method
 Results
 Discussion
 Limitation
 Conclusion

3. Introduction
“Patient education (PE) is any set of planned educational
activities, using a combination of methods that is designed to improve
patients’ knowledge and health behaviors” 1

4. Introduction
Three Common Issues in Patient Education2:
A) Patients want to participate and understand more
about their treatment
B) Accessibility to inaccurate information in the
internet
C) Diversity of patient groups (education level,
language, age, etc.)

5. Introduction
What is the primary source of PE?
- Health Professionals Consultation (Face-to-Face)3
Is the primary source of PE enough for educating patient?
- Inconsistent information4
- Misunderstandings of what is
important information between
physicians and patients 4
A) Patients want to participate and understand more
about their treatment

6. Introduction
Fast Accurate Patient Needs
B) Accessibility of inaccurate information in the internet

7. Introduction
 Patient has different levels of learning capability
- Low-level literacy
- English as second language
- Visual or audio impairments
 Information regarding diagnosis and treatment can be difficult to
understand 
- Radiation therapy consists of collection of complex procedures
and unknown equipment which can be overwhelming for patients
- Can lead to anxiety after diagnosis and before treatment7
C) Diversity of patient groups (education level, language,
age, etc.)

8. Introduction
 This suggests the needs to find another method or
intervention to improve the patient education especially
in radiation therapy centre
 Introducing video or computer-based program can be a
promising way to resolve the issues because2:
- Consistent information to every patient
- Time-efficient and cost effective

9. Objective
What are the effects of providing
video or computer-based program
to support educating radiation
therapy patients?

10. Method
Key Search (Science Direct, PubMed, EMBASE)
Radiation Therapy; Patient Education; Computer;
Computer Based Program; Video
Apply Filters:
1. Year 2000-2015
2. Language: English
3. Subject/Topic: Patient or Human
4. Article Type: Clinical Trial or Journal (Article)
286 Articles
97 Articles
Title and Abstract Screening
Exclude any studies:
- Does not specific to Radiation Therapy
Patient
- The development of Computer
Program or Video
- Healthcare Professional Training
9 Articles

11. Author
(Year)
Participant Media Patient
Knowledge
Patient
Satisfaction
Reduced
Anxiety
Additional
Zhao et al.
(2015) 8
1842 CBP ✔ ✔ NA
Gonzalez-
Arriagada et
al. (2013) 9
38 Video ✔ NA ✖
Matsuyama et
al. (2013) 10
32 Video ✔ ✔ NA
Ryhanen et
al. (2013) 3
90 CBP ✔ NA ✖ Required Better Accessibility
Tran et al.
(2012) 11
11 CBP NA ✔ NA The Need of Specific Body Site
Required Better Accessibility
Dunn et al.
(2004) 12
92 Video ✔ ✔ ✖
French et al.
(2003) 13
53 Video ✔ ✔ NA The Need of Specific Body Site
McGregor et
al. (2003) 14
11 CBP ✔ NA NA
Thomas et al.
(2000) 15
220 Video NA ✔ ✔
Table 1: The Effects of Video or Computer Based Program (CBP)
CBP = Computer Based Program ✖ = No Significant Difference NA = Not Assessed

12. Results
Benefits
- Improved patient knowledge
- Patient satisfaction with the content/information
- Reduced Anxiety Level
Feedback
- Information in the computer program and video should
be relevant to specific body site
- Accessibility of the media for patient
Patient
Education
Definition

13. Discussion
- Some research shows no significant difference in
reducing anxiety between intervention group (with
video or CBP) and control group due to other
interventions 3, 9,12
- Similar study also received feedback regarding
accessibility  Implementation? 3,10
- More specific body site video or computer based
program10,13  Difficult to alter to every
circumstances  Further research

14. Limitation
- Small sample size
- Not many researches that is directly related to
the effect of implementation of video or
computer-based program to radiation therapy
treatment
- Results not specified to certain demographics
of patients (age, socioeconomic or patient’s
education)
- More research to specific body site

15. Conclusion
- Video or computer-based program could be an
effective media to complement imparting
information and educating patient in
radiotherapy centre
- More development to be done to achieve more
accessible and specific body site video or
computer based program
- Further research with larger sample size,
specific body site and the relations of different
patient demographics like age, socioeconomic
status, or patient’s education

16. Acknowledgement
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (Sunshine) Staffs
Christopher Marinakis - Clinical Educator Peter
MacCallum Cancer Centre (Sunshine)

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