Evaluation of an Educational Whiteboard Video to Introduce Fertility Preservation to Female Adolescents and Young Adults With Cancer

Abstract

PURPOSE: Fertility is an important issue for adolescents and young adults with cancer facing potential infertility. Egg cryopreservation options exist, but information is sometimes overwhelming. We evaluated a fertility preservation educational video and assessed patient and family knowledge and impressions at pre- and post-video timepoints. METHODS: We developed a whiteboard video to explain egg cryopreservation to patients and families. The video was evaluated on the basis of patient education best practices (readability, understandability, actionability). Participants were recruited using convenience sampling in oncology clinics. They completed questionnaires before and after watching to assess knowledge and interest. Inclusion criteria were patients age 13-39 years and minimum 1 month from diagnosis. Descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, and mean comparisons were conducted. RESULTS: The video script read at a grade 8 reading level. Average understandability and actionability scores were below the acceptable standard. We recruited 108 patients (mean age, 27 years) and 39 caregivers/partners. Patients’ knowledge about fertility preservation increased after viewing the video. Interest was high before and after, and satisfaction was high for both patients and caregivers. Participants appreciated information on process, procedure, and delivery but desired more information on logistics, including cost. CONCLUSION: A targeted patient education video about fertility preservation options can build knowledge and encourage discussions about infertility. The video can be used as a model for videos on related topics to provide accurate information in a youth-friendly medium; however, following patient education best practices for readability, understandability, and actionability may increase video effectiveness. Future research should assess how audiovisual patient education material affects patient behavior.