Impact of adding a video to patient education on quality of life among adults with atrial fibrillation: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE:To assess whether adding a video on atrial fibrillation (AF) to a face-to-face educational session improves quality of life (QoL), knowledge, and health resource utilization (HRU) among AF patients. METHODS:In this parallel clinical trial, adults with AF received a face-to-face educational session on AF and were randomly allocated to watch an educational video or not. Self-reported questionnaires measured QoL (primary outcome; score 0-100), AF knowledge (score 0-25), and HRU. Data were collected before and after interventions. Within- and between-group changes were estimated by mixed models. RESULTS:Sixty participants (age: 56 ± 13 years; men: n = 41) were allocated to watch the video after education (n = 30) or to receive education only (n = 30). Within groups over time, QoL and knowledge significantly improved. Knowledge increased by 2.3 units (95% confidence interval: 0.5-4.1) more in participants who watched the video than in others (P = 0.014). Changes in QoL and HRU were not different between groups. CONCLUSION:Complementing education with a video on AF did not result in additional positive impacts on QoL and HRU among AF adults but led to greater improvements in AF knowledge. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS:The video on AF could be used as part of educational sessions to increase AF knowledge in AF patients.