A network meta-analysis on the effects of information technology application on preoperative knowledge of patients

Issue title: Recent Innovations on Biomedical Engineering

Guest editors: Wen-Hsiang Hsieh

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Lai, Yi-Horng

Affiliations: Department of Health Care Administration, Oriental Institute of Technology, 58, Sihchuan Rd. Sec.2, Pan-Chiao District, New Taipei City 22061, Taiwan. E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: The application of information technology in health education plan in Taiwan has existed for a long time. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between information technology application in health education and patients' preoperative knowledge by synthesizing existing researches that compare the effectiveness of information technology application and traditional instruction in the health education plan. In spite of claims regarding the potential benefits of using information technology in health education plan, results of previous researches were conflicting. This study is carried out to examine the effectiveness of information technology by using network meta-analysis, which is a statistical analysis of separate but similar studies in order to test the pooled data for statistical significance. Information technology application in health education discussed in this study include interactive technology therapy (person-computer), group interactive technology therapy (person-person), multimedia technology therapy and video therapy. The result has shown that group interactive technology therapy is the most effective, followed by interactive technology therapy. And these four therapies of information technology are all superior to the traditional health education plan (leaflet therapy).

Keywords: Health education plan, healthcare, patients' knowledge, network meta-analysis

DOI: 10.3233/THC-151085

Journal: Technology and Health Care, vol. 24, no. s1, pp. S281-S288, 2016