Effect of Educational Video on Patient Adherence and Completeness of Voiding Diaries: A Randomized Trial.

Importance: Voiding diaries are clinically useful tools for elucidating the etiology of lower urinary tract symptoms. The utility of voiding diaries is challenged by low return rate and incomplete or inaccurate data entry.

Objective: The objective was to determine the effect of the use of an educational video on patient adherence, completeness of intake and voiding diaries, and patient satisfaction.

Study design: In this trial, patients who were asked to complete an intake and voiding diary in a urogynecology clinic were randomized to receive standard education or enhanced education with an instructional video on how to complete the diary. Patients returned the diaries at their follow-up visits in the clinic. The primary outcome was the return rate of the diaries. Upon follow-up, patients filled out a survey reporting their satisfaction with instructions received. Diaries were graded by 3 blinded experts.

Results: Eighty-five patients were enrolled, 42 in the standardized instructions arm and 43 in the video arm. A total of 26 patients (30.6%) filled out and returned an intake and voiding diary. Between groups, there was no difference in the rate of return of the diaries ( P = 0.59) or in completeness of the returned voiding diaries ( P = 0.60). The educational video did not change satisfaction between the groups; patients reported identical satisfaction between groups.

Conclusions: The addition of an instructional video on how to complete an intake and voiding diary did not increase patients' rate of return, completeness of diaries, or satisfaction with instructions provided to complete the diary.