Computer-Based Programmed Instruction Did Not Improve the Knowledge Retention of Medication Instructions of Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

• Published in: The Diabetes educator Vol. 40; no. 1; pp. 77 - 88
• Main Authors: Ruiz, Jorge G., Andrade, Allen D., Anam, Ramanakumar, Lisigurski, Miriam, Karanam, Chandana, Sharit, Joseph
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01-01-2014
• Subjects: Adult; Computer-Assisted Instruction; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - psychology; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health Literacy; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Nursing; Patient Satisfaction; Program Evaluation; Retention (Psychology); Self Care - psychology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Text Messaging; User-Computer Interface; Veterans; United States > US
• ISSN: 0145-7217; 1554-6063
• DOI: 10.1177/0145721713508825

Purpose
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether computer-based programmed instruction (CPI) with a dynamic avatar (DA) improves retention of medication information better than text (controls) or better than CPI with text (T-CPI), CPI with voice (V-CPI), or CPI with static avatar with text (SA-CPI).
Methods
Participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial comparing TDS with CPI in 4 conditions (T-CPI, V-CPI, SA-CPI, and DA-CPI). CPI sequentially delivers segmented information in text or voice followed by a multiple-choice question. Immediately after the user selects an option, CPI delivers elaborated feedback. Satisfaction was measured immediately after the interventions, and medication knowledge was measured at 2 weeks.
Results
One-hundred fifty individuals (30 per group) with a mean age 62 years (standard deviation [SD] 7.99 years) participated. There were no baseline differences in race, body mass index, education, and health literacy. Medication knowledge retention at 2 weeks was not significantly different between the groups, df(4), F = 0.17, P = .95 (TDS, mean = 25.43, SD = 5.11; T-CPI, mean = 25.07, SD = 4.98; V-CPI, mean = 25.77, SD = 4.89; SA-CPI, mean = 25.83, SD = 5.31; and DA-CPI, mean = 24.93, SD = 6.25). Satisfaction scores were significantly lower for TDS, df(4), F = 3.11, P = .01.
Conclusions
CPI did not improve medication knowledge retention at 2 weeks. CPI led to higher patient satisfaction compared with controls.