The immediate, intermediate, and long-term effectiveness of audiovisuals for providing pre-treatment information to patients with cancer: A systematic review

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of audiovisuals in providing pre-treatment information to patients with cancer. Following the Six Function Model of Medical Communication, we distinguish between immediate, intermediate, and long-term outcomes. Methods: A systematic search was performed in five electronic databases for quantitative studies comparing the addition of audiovisuals with standard care or alternative interventions. Quality was assessed using Cochrane's Risk of Bias 2. Results: After abstract (n = 10,179) and full-text (n = 85) screening, 37 articles were included. Audiovisuals positively impacted patients' anxiety, knowledge, understanding, and physiological responses shortly after the consultation, particularly when video was compared with standard verbal care without audiovisual. Only five studies measured long-term outcomes, leaving the long-term effectiveness of audiovisuals unexplored. Majority of studies showed 'high risk of bias' (n = 34). Conclusion: Although caution is warranted because of the variability in study design and quality, the results suggest potential benefits of using audiovisuals alongside interpersonal communication. Practical implications: More high-quality and longitudinal research is needed with emphasis on comparing counseling with and without usage of audiovisual tools. Healthcare providers can improve the short-term impact of information provision by using audiovisuals alongside standard care, but should carefully consider content, for whom, how, and timing.