Do online resources improve patient knowledge?
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A prospective randomised controlled trial looking into the value of online resources to inform patients about their condition and treatment pre operatively
IRAS ID
145640
Contact name
Claire Dunderdale
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Research summary
There is a vast amount of information available online for patients and such computer-based resources have many advantages, including flexible access, privacy, modifiable information and the opportunity for patients to control information flow.
Previous studies have shown the variability in quality of patient information online1 but it is currently not known if the use of online information enhances a patients knowledge of their condition and/or procedure.
This trial wants to look at whether encouraging patients to use accurate up to date websites increases their use, and whether people using these websites know more about their condition as a result.
This will be achieved in a pre-operative hospital setting for patients undergoing surgery for spinal decompression and fusion. Currently it is common practice to use a eurospine flyer at spinal pre-operative clinics although it is not known whether uptake of online resources is improved or indeed understanding is improved. By splitting future patients into two groups (one control one to receive the flyer) we will be using a small multiple choice questionnaire to evaluate both groups and quantitatively compare them in order to show any variation in knowledge.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/YH/0071
Date of REC Opinion
26 Feb 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion