Video education for cataract surgery patients implementing post-operative self-care

Abstract

Context:  A cataract is a condition in which the lens of the cornea is cloudy.  Most common in older people is a worsening of vision, making cataracts a major cause of disability for the elderly.  No drug can cure or prevent cataracts – surgery is the only treatment.  After surgery, post-operative care is essential for cataract patients.  Patients have to self-care for at least 6 weeks to heal post-operative wounds.

Objective:  To study the effectiveness of health education video media for cataract surgery patients carrying out post-operative self-care.

Methods:  Our sample group consisted of 35 patients with cataracts undergoing surgery at Burapha University Hospital from March 1^st to July 31^st, 2020.  The research instruments were video media and questionnaires endorsed by 3 experts.  The questionnaires consisted of content on the knowledge of cataracts and post cataract surgery practices, as well as satisfaction measurement forms for the video media.  The cataract content questionnaire was validated by 2 experts, and was found that the IOC was equal to or greater than 0.6 for all items, and 0.76 for the questionnaire.  The Kuder-Richardson reliability test was 0.78.  Data were analyzed by the Wilcoxon Signed Rank test.

Results:  The study found that video media on self-care for post-operative cataract patients was able to educate and increase understanding in its participants.  The mean of knowledge and understanding of cataract post-operative care after watching the video media increased significantly (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: The results indicated that the department could use video media to provide health education to patients undergoing cataract surgery.  The project participants could apply their knowledge to reduce the risk of complications after cataract surgery, which could cause permanent vision loss if not performed correctly.  The video media can be easily accessed from a QR code, making it possible to carry out continuous practice at home.