Aim: Educational videos can disseminate health information in time-constrained clinical settings. Our aim was to determine feasibility and acceptability of videos we developed about bowel function recovery and supportive care for people undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer (CRC), and their effect on patients’ understanding and self-efficacy regarding likely changes in bowel function.
Methods: A non-randomised, single-arm pilot study. Eligibility criteria: stage I-III or limited IV CRC; scheduled elective resection +/- temporary stoma, >7 days after referral; English fluency. Study intervention: view 4 educational videos (each ~ 6-10 minutes) at home pre-surgery. Assessments: electronic surveys before and after viewing. Primary outcome: acceptability. Secondary outcomes: knowledge change via quiz, satisfaction. Descriptive analysis and Chi-squared test were used.
Results: 21 of 28 eligible pre-operative patients were recruited. Mean age 57 (32-77 years); Male = 15. Surgical procedures: anterior resection (high (6), low (4) and ultralow (5)); right hemicolectomy (3); and subtotal colectomy (2). One had a temporary stoma. Two had neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. 20/21 (95%) participants viewed all 4 videos, 18/21 (85%) completed all surveys. The video watching had 95% adherence. 28% of participants watched the videos more than once. Improvement in knowledge of bowel cancer and function suggested by 11% increase in quiz score (95%CI -16.5 to – 5.06 p<.001). Overall, 82%-94% of participants agreed the videos had excellent content, presentation and information. Self-efficacy was high: 88% strongly agreed or agreed their ability to understand the information, practice self-care and navigate help from health professionals had improved. 98% agreed or strongly agreed that empowerment is important in CRC management.
Conclusion: Educational videos are a feasible and acceptable tool for disseminating information to CRC patients before surgery. The self-paced videos improved bowel function knowledge and self-efficacy in managing the potential impact of surgery on bowel function.