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The Value of an Educational Video Before Consultation with a Radiation Oncologist

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Abstract

This study aims to assess the efficacy of a radiation therapy (RT) education video for patients referred for treatment. The investigators produced a 23-min guide to radiation therapy DVD, combining didactic material and patient narratives. Patients (n = 32) had not yet received their initial consultation. Baseline awareness about cancer and treatment was assessed by surveys including the rapid estimate of adult literacy in medicine. Knowledge about RT was assessed before and after viewing the video with a separate 21 question survey. Differences in benefit for sociodemographic subgroups including age, gender, ethnicity, income, education, and health literacy level were explored. Baseline assessments identified 78 % of patients regardless of sociodemographic status had “little” to “no” basic knowledge of RT. The mean number of correct responses in the 21 question survey assessing how RT works improved from 9.8 to 11.1 after watching the video (p < 0.0001; 95 % CI: 1.3–3.0), a statistically significant benefit that was present among all sociodemographic subgroups, but more prominent among those with a greater than high school education (p = 0.002). Patient satisfaction with the video was high. Knowledge among cancer patients regarding RT is poor, regardless of sociodemographic factors. This pilot study demonstrates the utility of a brief video to universally improve patient awareness about RT. While patients may ultimately learn about RT during their course of treatment, we advocate for any tools that can improve patient knowledge at the time of initial consultation as this is typically the time they are asked to acknowledge informed consent for treatment.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hematology/Oncology and Palliative Care, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA

    Laurie J. Lyckholm

  2. Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA

    Drew Moghanaki

  3. Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA

    Robin K. Matsuyama

  4. Department of Social and Behavioral Health, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, PO Box 980149, Richmond, VA, 23298-0149, USA

    Robin K. Matsuyama & Anthony Molisani

Authors
  1. Robin K. Matsuyama
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  2. Laurie J. Lyckholm
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  3. Anthony Molisani
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  4. Drew Moghanaki
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Robin K. Matsuyama.

Additional information

Funding in part by: Massey Cancer Center, Richmond, VA, USA and The American Cancer Society (MSRGT-08-143-01-CPPB #).

Appendices

Appendix 1

Understanding how radiation treatment is delivered

 

Not at all

A little bit

Somewhat

Quite a bit

Very well

1. I understand how external beam radiation works

0

1

2

3

4

2. I understand what cancer is

0

1

2

3

4

3. I understand the role of the radiation oncologist

0

1

2

3

4

4. I understand the purpose of tattoos for radiation

0

1

2

3

4

5. I understand the differences between external beam radiation and brachytherapy

0

1

2

3

4

6. I understand how radiation is administered

0

1

2

3

4

7. I understand how communicating with the doctor and radiation team helps

0

1

2

3

4

8. I understand the role of nutrition during therapy

0

1

2

3

4

Appendix 2

Understanding how radiation therapy works

  1. 1.

    Which of the following best describes radiation therapy?

    1. (a)

      X-rays that destroy cancer cells

    2. (b)

      Drugs that destroy cancer cells

    3. (c)

      Surgery that removes a tumor

  2. 2.

    When cancer is called “inoperable”, what does that mean?

    1. (a)

      Radiation therapy cannot be used

    2. (b)

      Surgery cannot be used

    3. (c)

      Chemotherapy cannot be used

  3. 3.

    Radiation can injure both healthy and cancer cells.

    1. (a)

      True

    2. (b)

      False

  4. 4.

    When cancer cells are growing, they are at their weakest.

    1. (a)

      True

    2. (b)

      False

  5. 7.

    External beam radiation therapy makes people radioactive after treatment is over.

    1. (a)

      True

    2. (b)

      False

  6. 10.

    Once radiation therapy is complete, there is no benefit for a patient to see their radiation oncologist.

    1. (a)

      True

    2. (b)

      False

  7. 11.

    “Palliative” radiation is used to:

    1. (a)

      Cure cancer

    2. (b)

      Reduce symptoms, without trying to cure

    3. (c)

      Stop infection

  8. 13.

    Side effects from radiation therapy can develop years after treatment is complete.

    1. (a)

      True

    2. (b)

      False

  9. 14.

    Radiation can temporarily make cancers grow faster.

    1. (a)

      True

    2. (b)

      False

  10. 15.

    Missing a few treatments during radiotherapy does not make a difference, as long as all treatments are completed.

    1. (a)

      True

    2. (b)

      False

  11. 16.

    Radiation treatment using radioactive seeds is an option for all cancers.

    1. (a)

      True

    2. (b)

      False

  12. 18.

    It is a good idea to try to lose weight during radiation therapy.

    1. (a)

      True

    2. (b)

      False

  13. 19.

    Radiation works by:

    1. (a)

      Treating all cancers throughout the entire body

    2. (b)

      Selectively targeting only precise spots in the body

  14. 20.

    Radiation cannot be given all at one time because it would make a patient too sick.

    1. (a)

      True

    2. (b)

      False

  15. 21.

    Cancer cells can take months to die after radiation treatment is completed.

    1. (a)

      True

    2. (b)

      False

Appendix 3

Satisfaction with the video

  1. 1.

    I learned things about radiation therapy that I did not know before.

    1. (a)

      True

    2. (b)

      False

  2. 2.

    I found the video scary.

    1. (a)

      True

    2. (b)

      False

  3. 3.

    I found the video depressing.

    1. (a)

      True

    2. (b)

      False

  4. 4.

    I feel like I better understand what to expect with radiation therapy.

    1. (a)

      True

    2. (b)

      False

  5. 5.

    I had more questions at the end of the video than before I watched it.

    1. (a)

      True

    2. (b)

      False

  6. 6.

    I found the video boring.

    1. (a)

      True

    2. (b)

      False

  7. 7.

    What were the three most important things you learned from the video

  8. 8.

    What did you like about the video?

  9. 9.

    What did you dislike about the video?

  10. 10.

    Please suggest changes that would improve the video.

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Matsuyama, R.K., Lyckholm, L.J., Molisani, A. et al. The Value of an Educational Video Before Consultation with a Radiation Oncologist. J Canc Educ 28, 306–313 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-013-0473-1

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