Online, Video-Based Patient Education Improves Melanoma Awareness: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Despite efforts to increase melanoma awareness in the general public, research is scant regarding effective methods of education delivery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of online, video-based education to increase melanoma awareness and knowledge. In this randomized controlled trial, 78 subjects received either an online, video-based education or written educational material (in the form of a pamphlet) on the description and detection of melanoma. Questionnaires were developed that assessed subjects' understanding of melanoma at baseline and at 1 month after receiving the educational intervention. Subjects in the online video group demonstrated significantly increased melanoma knowledge compared to those in the written education group, as measured by improvement from baseline on a 10-item questionnaire (2.03 and 0.72 improvement, respectively, p = 0.03). Furthermore, compared to those in the written education group, video group subjects rated their intervention significantly higher in terms of usefulness and appeal. The use of online videos may represent an effective method to raise melanoma awareness.