A study from the American College of Surgeons demonstrates something we at JoVE have known for quite a while: videos are invaluable in education and transparency. In the study, surgeons showed a 30 minute video to lung cancer patients undergoing surgery.
Lead author from the Washington University School of Medicine, Dr. Traves Crabtree wanted to develop a technique to help patients as they prepare for their operations. “It’s scary to go through, but surgeons want to make it the best possible situation we can. Anything we can do to comfort the patient will make it a little better than if no one told them what to expect,” Crabtree explains.
The video gives information on the entire experience, “from how to prepare for the operation and what’s involved in the procedure, to what should happen each day after surgery until discharge and what to expect several months later” the association’s press release describes. Patients reported better pain management and satisfaction with the surgery.
These findings, if substantiated, could prove valuable and application to other forms of surgeries. Video education, when done correctly, provides a resource to help disseminate difficult to grasp concepts.
For many patients with no science background, a surgery can be daunting and understandably scary. The American College of Surgeons has also found a way to increase the trust and transparency of the medical profession: patients can better trust their caregivers if they can understand, on their own terms, the procedures they will be undergoing.
You can find the press release here.
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