Video compact discs for patient education: reducing anxiety prior to cataract surgery.

For this controlled trial, 463 patients were randomly assigned to two groups. The control group received cataract information leaflets and the study group received both leaflets and an educational video compact disc (VCD). Eighty percent of the subjects were more than 60 years old, and 86% were Chinese. Both groups showed significant knowledge acquisition and were marginally less fearful and nervous than before the study began. Between groups, however, there was no significant difference in knowledge and anxiety level. The subjects' preferences of information formats were: verbal (spoken) 54%, VCD 47%, and printed 36%.