Bridging knowledge gaps in paediatric chronic urticaria through a video-based educational tool

Background There is a lack of patient educational resources about chronic urticaria (CU). Aims To develop and test the effectiveness of an education tool to help paediatric patients and their families better understand CU and its management. Methods From July 2020 to May 2022, paediatric patients with a history of CU who presented to the allergy outpatient clinics at our institution were recruited. Consenting families and patients were asked to complete five questions related to the definition, causes and management of CU at the time of presentation to the clinic. Participants were shown a 5-min animated video addressing the main knowledge gaps about CU. At the end of the video, participants were redirected to the same five questions to respond again. The scores were recorded as a proportion of correct answers (range 0 center dot 0-1 center dot 0). Results In total, 53 patients [30 girls (56 center dot 6%), 23 boys (43 center dot 4%); mean age 9 center dot 7 +/- 5 center dot 1 years, range 1 center dot 4-18 center dot 5 years] were recruited. The mean baseline pre-video education questionnaire score was 0 center dot 67 +/- 0 center dot 2 (range 0 center dot 2-1 center dot 0), while the mean post-video score was 0 center dot 94 +/- 0 center dot 1 (range 0 center dot 4-1 center dot 0), a mean score difference of 0 center dot 27, which was statistically significant (P < 0 center dot 001). At the 1-year follow-up, 14 (26 center dot 4%) patients answered the questionnaire again to assess retention of knowledge; the mean score was 0 center dot 83 +/- 0 center dot 2 (range 0 center dot 2-1 center dot 0). Conclusions Our educational video was successful in educating patients and their families to better understand urticaria. Future studies should aim to optimize patient education through nontraditional tools such as videos, and compare knowledge gain using different methods of education.