Proposed Topic (Most preferred): :
Enhancing Partnership with Patients and Community (Projects initiated to engage patients / carers / community to improve efficiency / quality of care)
Authors (including presenting author) :
Chow SY, Chan MH, Tang KT, Wong PY, Cho HY
Affiliation :
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Kwong Wah Hospital
Introduction :
Tumor ablation is categorized as a high bleeding risk procedure, usually performed by Interventional Radiologists under conscious sedation in the radiology department. Patient empowerment plays a crucial role in such procedures. The level of patient cooperation greatly impacts on the effectiveness of the procedure and the overall safety for both the patient and the operating team. This project aimed to provide evidence supporting the use of visual aids in pre-procedural education by radiology nurses to improve the level of patients' cooperation.
Objectives :
To investigate the effectiveness of using a pre-procedural education portfolio by the radiology nursing team, which includes visual aids such as pictures and videos, in enhancing patients' understanding in ablation procedures.
Methodology :
A quantitative study was conducted, where patients were randomly assigned to two groups: one group received education with visual aids, while the other group received education without visual aids. The outcomes were compared to examine the impact of visual aids on the patients' level of understanding in the ablation procedure.
Result & Outcome :
The results clearly demonstrated that providing information together with visual aids, allowing patients to take an active role in the procedure, improved their understanding and engagement. Visual aids, such as pictures and videos, are proved to be effective in helping patients comprehend complex medical concepts, particularly among certain populations such as the elderly and those with a low educational level. All participants in the study showed positive responses to the operating team during the ablation procedure. However, participants in the control group required repeated reminders about what to expect, while those in the intervention group did not require reminders and demonstrated knowledge of the procedure. Uncooperative behaviors and challenges from patients not only impact daily operations but also lead to frustration and exhaustion among healthcare providers. Many of these behaviors stem from a lack of knowledge and low engagement of patients in the treatment process. The results of this project highlight the improvements in services and patient experiences that can be achieved by implementing new and appropriate changes, breaking away from old practices that have been in use for many years. The role expansion of specialty in radiology nursing played a significant part in achieving these positive outcomes.
