Diseases of the esophagus : official journal of the International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Impact of procedural multimedia instructions for pH BRAVO testing on patient comprehension: a prospective randomized study.
The positive impact on patient comprehension and improved procedural outcomes when multimedia is utilized to convey instructions preprocedurally has been previously shown for gastrointestinal procedures such as colonoscopy. However, in gastroesophageal reflux testing (GERD), we continue to utilize verbal and written instructions to establish this diagnosis when we use BRAVO pH testing. This is arguably a more complex procedure involving stopping medications, placement of a device, and maintaining an accurate diary for the duration of the testing. ⋯ We detected no significant difference in comprehension or satisfaction scores in subgroup analyses of the video group comparing patients <65 and ≥65 years of age and by education level. Compared to standard written instructions, video instructions improved patient comprehension based on data evaluation, and satisfaction. Therefore, clinicians should consider incorporation of multimedia instructions to enhance patient periprocedural expectations and understanding of reflux pH testing using the BRAVO procedure.