Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine if computer-based videos successfully educate patients on a whole food, plant-based diet (WFPBD) during clinic wait time. We recognize the importance of nutrition in disease prevention and treatment, particularly for diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and vascular disease. We investigated the effectiveness of this model in increasing patient knowledge and confidence about diet.

Methods: Subjects (n = 77) were recruited at a radiology clinic. A 19-question survey was administered using an iPad. Patients completed the survey before and after watching a 5-minute computer-based video about the beneficial health effects of WFPBD. To assess knowledge, patients’ responses to the survey’s 10 knowledge-based (KB) questions were scored on a dichotomous incorrect/correct scale. To assess confidence in their knowledge, patients’ responses to the survey’s 9 confidence-based (CB) questions were scored on a Likert scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). Two paired difference scores (knowledge and confidence) were calculated and independently analyzed using a Related-Samples Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test. A Stepwise Linear Regression was used to investigate which survey questions were most educational.

Results: The Related-Samples Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test showed a statistically significant improvement in both patients’ knowledge and confidence in their knowledge of nutrition. Patients scored significantly higher on KB survey questions (p < 0.001) and CB survey questions (p < 0.001) post-video. Stepwise Linear Regression showed that the most educational survey questions included information on fiber, plant-based foods, and saturated fats.

Conclusion: Our findings indicate that providing patients with a computer-based educational video during clinic wait time significantly increases patient knowledge on the benefits of a WFPBD. Future studies can test a larger sample of patients and gauge the longevity of knowledge gained.

Disclosure

K. Cole: None. D. Wenger: None. A. Guha: None. C. Yarosh: None. C. Hoffman: None.

Funding

University of California, Los Angeles

© 2020 by the American Diabetes Association
2020
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