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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2016 Jan;18(1):57-64.
doi: 10.1038/gim.2015.33. Epub 2015 Apr 2.

Interactive multimedia consent for biobanking: a randomized trial

Christian M Simon  1   2 , David W Klein  3 , Helen A Schartz  3
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Interactive multimedia consent for biobanking: a randomized trial

Christian M Simon et al. Genet Med. 2016 Jan.

Abstract

Purpose: The potential of interactive multimedia to improve biobank informed consent has yet to be investigated. The aim of this study was to test the separate effectiveness of interactivity and multimedia at improving participant understanding and confidence in understanding of informed consent compared with a standard, face-to-face (F2F) biobank consent process.

Methods: A 2 (face-to-face versus multimedia) × 2 (standard versus enhanced interactivity) experimental design was used with 200 patients randomly assigned to receive informed consent. All patients received the same information provided in the biobank's nine-page consent document.

Results: Interactivity (F(1,196) = 7.56, P = 0.007, partial η(2) = 0.037) and media (F(1,196) = 4.27, P = 0.04, partial η(2) = 0.021) independently improved participants' understanding of the biobank consent. Interactivity (F(1,196) = 6.793, P = 0.01, partial η(2) = 0.033), but not media (F(1,196) = 0.455, not significant), resulted in increased participant confidence in their understanding of the biobank's consent materials. Patients took more time to complete the multimedia condition (mean = 18.2 min) than the face-to-face condition (mean = 12.6 min).

Conclusion: This study demonstrated that interactivity and multimedia each can be effective at promoting an individual's understanding and confidence in their understanding of a biobank consent, albeit with additional time investment. Researchers should not assume that multimedia is inherently interactive, but rather should separate the two constructs when studying electronic consent.

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Figures

Graph 1
Graph 1
Average Knowledge of Consent by Type of Media and Level of Interactivity
Graph 2
Graph 2
Average Confidence in Understanding by Type of Media and Level of Interactivity
Graph 3
Graph 3
Average Time for Participant Consent by Type of Media and Level of Interactivity.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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