Effect of Avatar-Based Education Program in Hydrocephalus on Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Complications and Parents' Knowledge and Care Skills: Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trials.

BACKGROUND

Preventing complications of hydrocephalus and educating parents about long-term care is critical. Hydrocephalus is a surprisingly neglected issue, considering its global burden. This study aims to develop an avatar-based education program for hydrocephalus and determine its effect on parents' knowledge, care skills, and shunt complications.

METHODS

This study is a single-blind, multicenter, randomized controlled trial. Participants were randomly assigned to an avatar-assisted education program or a standard care control group. Parents' hydrocephalus knowledge, self-assessment of care skills, and shunt complication follow-up list were assessed at one, three, and six months.

RESULTS

The study findings showed that the self-assessment scores of the parents in the intervention group regarding their knowledge and care skills about hydrocephalus differed significantly from those of the control group. A significant difference was obtained in the complication parameters in the third and last tests. While there was a significant difference between the sedimentation and C-reactive protein level between the groups, no significant difference was found between the white blood cell count. While there was a significant difference in the body temperature and head circumference between the groups, no significant difference was found between the Glasgow coma scale groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The avatar-based education program intervention developed for parents of children with hydrocephalus was effective in increasing parents' knowledge and care skills and reducing shunt complications.