author = {Karan, Abraar. and Somasundaram, Prashanth. and Michael, Haben. and Shayegani, Aryan. and Mayer, Hylton.}, title = {{ The effect of multimedia interventions on the informed consent process for cataract surgery in rural South India}}, journal ={Indian Journal of Ophthalmology}, volume ={62}, number ={2}, pages = {171-175}, doi = {10.4103/0301-4738.116488}, year = {2014}, abstract ={Context: The provision of ocular surgical interventions for poorer, less educated populations is increasing as a result of increased globalization and outreach. However, these populations still have trouble understanding surgical concepts and are not always fully informed decision makers. Aims: We aimed to test the effect that a multimedia addition to a traditional verbal informed consent would have on patient comprehension of relatively difficult cataract surgical concepts. Settings and Design: We conducted a randomized controlled trial with relatively uneducated patients reporting to a private surgical hospital in Chennai, India. 47 patients were placed into the intervention group and 50 patients were placed into the control group. Materials and Methods: The intervention group was presented with a scripted verbal informed consent as well as a 3-fold pamphlet and a presentation with a 3-dimensional model of the eye. The control group was only presented with a scripted verbal informed consent. The two groups were tested using an 11 item "True/False/I don't know" quiz directly before the informed consent, directly after the informed consent, and one-day postoperatively. Statistical Analysis Used: Scores on the quiz were compared across groups and time-points using paired t-tests. Results: Patients in the both groups showed a significant improvement in scores between pre- and post-informed consent quizzes (P value on the order of 10 -6 ) and the improvement in scores was significantly greater in the intervention group than the control group (P value on the order of 10 -16 ). There was no significant difference observed in either group with regards to the change in scores between post-informed consent and post-operative quizzes. Conclusion: Multimedia aids in addition to a standard informed consent process are effective in improving patient comprehension even for patients with low literacy and limited knowledge of surgical interventions.}, URL ={https://journals.lww.com/ijo/pages/default.aspx/article.asp?issn=0301-4738;year=2014;volume=62;issue=2;spage=171;epage=175;aulast=Karan;t=6}, eprint ={https://journals.lww.com/ijo/pages/default.aspx/article.asp?issn=0301-4738;year=2014;volume=62;issue=2;spage=171;epage=175;aulast=Karan;t=6} }