The Impact of Tele-Health Education in Decreasing the Knowledge Deficit Regarding Coronary Artery Disease in a Rural Area

Abstract

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate if using an educational tele-health intervention will reduce the knowledge deficit by a significant amount.

Methods: Using a pre-test post-test design, the study examined the effect of a brief multimedia health education curriculum on knowledge related to coronary artery disease. Specifically, each participant experienced an educational intervention consisting of a 5-minute tele-health video as well as a pamphlet explaining the pathophysiology, risk factors, and prevention of coronary artery disease. To assess change, the project included a pre- and post-survey that assessed participant knowledge related to coronary artery disease.

Results: Upon determining that the data followed a normal distribution, a paired-sample t-test was performed to compare mean scores from pre- to post-test. Post-test scores (M = 6.38, SD = 1.04) were significantly greater than pre-test scores (M = 5.54, SD = 1.20), t(12) = -2.51, p = 0.03, d = 0.75.Cohen’s d indicates that participants improved their knowledge by three-fourths of a standard deviation, which, according to Cohen (1988), is classified as a medium-sized effect.

Conclusion: Tele-health does significantly improve knowledge base when comparing pre-test and post-test scores. Using tele-health could potentially be a useful avenue to provide medical education to rural populations in the United States.