Computer-Based Behavioral Health Education: Use in a Chronic Care Population.
Sue V. Petzel, Lynda B.M. Ellis, Jeffrey R. Budd, Ya-Jung Tsai · PubMed Central · 1990
To evaluate the acceptability and effectiveness of CAI to promote health behavior change, we have developed eleven lessons to teach three coping skills: problem solving, social networking, and communication. Lesson development included creation of a PC-PILOT pre-processor for patient CAI. Lessons are currently being used by parents of children with cystic fibrosis. The overall goal of this study is to compare the effectiveness of the written lessons, computer lessons and generic mental health materials. Parents are willing to participate in this study and cooperate with study testing and methodology, including completing one or two lessons at each quarterly clinic visit. However, the first four computer lessons are being completed significantly more rapidly than the corresponding written lessons (p < 0.005). Preliminary results of user acceptability for the first two lessons indicate the computer lessons are as or more acceptable than written lessons or generic health education brochures. The parents who completed lesson 2 in computer form rated themselves as learning significantly more from it than those who completed the lesson in written form (p = 0.002).