Impact of Multimedia on Patient Comprehension in Thyroid Surgery: A Randomized Trial.
Publication/Presentation Date
2-1-2026
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess whether the Thyroid Informed Surgical Consent Augmenting Video (TISCAV) improves knowledge retention, reduces decisional conflict, alleviates anxiety, and enhances satisfaction in thyroidectomy decision-making compared to standard verbal consent.
STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial.
SETTING: Academic tertiary care center with urban outpatient and community-based clinics.
METHODS: Forty-nine English-speaking adults scheduled for thyroid surgery were randomized to receive either standard verbal consent alone (control) or TISCAV followed by standard consent (intervention). Forty-three completed preoperative assessments and were included in the analysis. Knowledge was assessed before and after consent. Visual Analog Scale for Anxiety (VAS-A), Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS), and Satisfaction with Decision Scale (SDS) were measured preoperatively; SDS, Decision Regret Scale (DRS), and anxiety were reassessed at 22 and 100 days postoperatively.
RESULTS: Both groups demonstrated significant knowledge gains post-consent (P < .0001), with no significant difference between groups (P = .1812). Patients with malignant/suspicious cytopathology had lower decisional conflict than those with benign findings (P = .03); scores in indeterminate cases trended similarly (P = .11). Among patients with indeterminate cytopathology, decisional conflict did not differ significantly (P = .06), while preoperative satisfaction was lower in the video group (P = .02); group differences resolved postoperatively (P ≥ .55).
CONCLUSION: TISCAV and standard consent both improved knowledge acquisition. While video-based consent may transiently increase decisional conflict and reduce satisfaction among patients with indeterminate pathology, these effects did not persist postoperatively. Video tools may serve as a safe and accessible adjunct to verbal consent.
Volume
174
Issue
2
First Page
375
Last Page
385
ISSN
1097-6817
Published In/Presented At
Samarah, H., Moroco, A. E., Liu, K., Nunes, K., Thal, A. G., Curry, J. M., & Cottrill, E. E. (2026). Impact of Multimedia on Patient Comprehension in Thyroid Surgery: A Randomized Trial. Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, 174(2), 375–385. https://doi.org/10.1002/ohn.70111
Disciplines
Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Health and Medical Administration | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
PubMedID
41503824
Department(s)
Administration and Leadership
Document Type
Article