Effectiveness of 3D animation tools in patient education on cochlear implantation

Purpose: Video animations have emerged as effective tools for patient education across various medical fields. Although evidence is mixed, animations show promise in enhancing comprehension, especially in fields like audiology, where verbal communication can be challenging, and the benefits may be even higher. This study explores whether 3D video animations improve patient education during the cochlear implantation (CI) selection process. Materials and methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted at the Cochlear Implant Center, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam. Forty-six adult patients were included in the study and divided into two groups: one receiving the standard CI selection process and the other receiving the same process with additional 3D video animations. Participants completed a questionnaire assessing their knowledge, self-assessment of their knowledge, and satisfaction. The group with animations also answered additional questions about their experience with the animations. Results: The group receiving the videos reported significantly higher self-assessment knowledge scores, particularly regarding rehabilitation. However, there were no significant differences in objective knowledge scores between the two groups. Satisfaction with the videos was high, with most participants sharing them with family and friends. Conclusion: 3D video animations enhanced patients' self-perceived knowledge, particularly regarding rehabilitation, but did not significantly improve actual knowledge scores. The findings suggest that video animations are a promising tool for patient education in the CI selection process and warrant further investigation with larger sample sizes.