Hypothesis: Providing additional information by video in addition to the standard consultation in women requesting sterilisation increases patients' knowledge about the procedure with no change in anxiety levels.
Design: Randomised control trial in 6 weeks.
Population: Women requesting sterilisation (n = 31).
Setting: Gynaecology clinics in two teaching hospitals.
Methods: Comparison of providing additional information by video in addition to the standard consultation with the standard consultation.
Main outcome measures: Patients' knowledge of sterilisation, anxiety levels and acceptance of the video approach.
Results: Women receiving video information as well as the standard consultation had significantly higher knowledge scores compared with women only receiving the conventional consultation. Women undergoing a conventional consultation (no video) in a nurse-led dedicated sterilisation clinic had significantly higher knowledge scores than women having their consultation in a general gynaecological clinic. There were no differences in anxiety levels between the groups. Information giving by video was acceptable to the majority of women.
Conclusion: Videos are a reliable and consistent method of delivering information to women requesting female sterilisation.