Animated Video Versus Written Leaflet for Preoperative Kidney Transplant Education

Comparing the Effects of Animated Video and Written Information on Understanding, Knowledge Level, and Anxiety in Explaining Kidney Transplant Surgery to Patients

This randomized comparative trial evaluated whether an animated educational video, added to standard verbal counselling, differs from a content-matched written information leaflet, also added to standard verbal counselling, in improving procedural knowledge and reducing preoperative anxiety among adult kidney transplant candidates and prospective living donors. Participants were assessed immediately before and immediately after the assigned intervention. Secondary outcomes included participant satisfaction, preferred information modality, and the understandability and actionability of the educational materials.

Adult kidney transplant candidates undergoing preoperative evaluation and their prospective living donors were randomly allocated 1:1 to a video group or a written group. Both groups received standardized verbal counselling, unchanged across arms; the video group additionally viewed a ~2.5-minute animated video, and the written group additionally read a content-matched, illustrated A4 leaflet covering the same kidney transplant surgical pathway (laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy, bench surgery, and recipient stages). Procedural knowledge was measured with a seven-item investigator-developed questionnaire and preoperative anxiety with the validated Turkish Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS), administered immediately before and after the intervention. After the post-test, participants were cross-over exposed to the other format and indicated their preferred modality for future education. The understandability and actionability of both materials were independently rated using the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT-A/V and PEMAT-P).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 18 to 75 years
• Kidney transplant candidate or prospective living donor undergoing preoperative evaluation
• Able to read and write Turkish
• Provided written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Previous exposure to the study's animated educational video
• Cognitive impairment or inability to communicate adequately for assessment
• Visual or hearing impairment preventing completion of questionnaires or viewing of the material
• Documented severe psychiatric disorder