The effectiveness of a self-care management interactive multimedia module.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To develop and test an interactive multimedia module prototype designed to accommodate adults with limited literacy and without computer skills.

DESIGN

Experimental, randomized, controlled, pretest, post-test.

SETTING

Cancer treatment centers in California, Louisiana (pilot). New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Texas.

SAMPLE

Outpatients who were at least 18 years old with a minimum fifth-grade reading level; 86 experimental treatment, 88 control.

METHODS

Experimental treatment involved use of the interactive multimedia module; the control group received customary Instruction.

FINDINGS

As compared to the control group, subjects in the experimental group had significant improvement (p = 0.0001; 257% gain) in self-care ability regardless of age, sex race, education, geographic location, reading ability, computer experience, or preferred learning style; a 6.515% increase in fatigue content covered and 16.775% Increase in instructional duration; and significantly greater benefit from sleep-related activities and a consistent, positive pattern of self-care behavior.

CONCLUSIONS

The program is instructionally effective, appropriate for a wide and geographically diverse audience, and feasible for use in the ambulatory setting.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

The interactive multimedia module is an effective, self-directed resource for individualized patient fatigue education.