Multimedia based health information to parents in a pediatric acute ward: A randomized controlled trial

Objective

To determine whether multimedia based health information presented to parents of children with breathing difficulties in a pediatric acute ward, is more effective than verbal information, to reduce parental anxiety and increase satisfaction.

Methods

This randomized controlled trial was conducted in a pediatric acute ward in Norway, from January to March 2011. Parents were randomly assigned to a multimedia intervention (n = 53), or verbal health information (n = 48). Primary outcome measure was parental anxiety, and secondary outcome measures were parental satisfaction with nursing care and health information.

Results

Parental anxiety decreased from arrival to discharge within both groups. At discharge the anxiety levels in the intervention group were no lower than in the control group. There was no difference in satisfaction with nursing care between the groups, but parents in the intervention group reported higher satisfaction with the health information given in the acute ward (p = .005).

Conclusion

Multimedia based health information did not reduce anxiety more than verbal information, among parents to children with breathing difficulties. However, after discharge the parents were more satisfied with the multimedia approach.

Practice implications

More research is needed to recommend the use of multimedia based information as a routine to parents in pediatric emergency care.