Effectiveness of Web-Based Video Teaching with Injectable Fertility Medications A Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE: To determine if web-based video teaching is an effective method for patient education of injectable medications in an infertile population. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective randomized controlled trial at an academic reproductive endocrinology and infertility clinic. Sixty-six infertile patients aged 18-42 years and who required use of injectable gonadotropins from June 2012 through December 2014 were enrolled. Outcome measures included assessment of patient knowledge, satisfaction, preferred educational method, and time required to teach use of injectable gonadotropins. RESULTS: Sixty-six patients met inclusion criteria and enrolled: 33 patients were randomized to web based video and 33 to one-on-one injection teaching. Web-based video learners performed better on the knowledge-based test (89.7% correct vs. 83.6%, p=0.04). The web-based video group required less time to teach (7 minutes vs. 9.6 minutes, p=0.0001). There was not a significant difference between groups in regard to patient satisfaction or comfort levels with self-administration of gonadotropin injections. When given the choice, 79% of web-based video patients and 91% of one-on-one patients indicated that they preferred individualized teaching with a nurse, which was not significantly different (p=0.4). CONCLUSION: Web based video teaching is more effective than one-on-one teaching for use of injectable gonadotropins in terms of patient knowledge. Web based video instruction is an effective tool to improve patient education and clinical efficiency that offers potential cost-savings.