Optimizing Patient Education on Orthotic Bracing

Abstract

The partnering organization was a durable medical equipment company specializing in orthotic back bracing. The Coronavirus pandemic of 2020 forced the company to halt in-person delivery, thus eliminating in-person brace instruction for patients. The DNP project was developed to improve patient education practices in the midst of a pandemic, and to facilitate informed consent. The project team agreed that a web-based patient education portal had potential to fill the education gap created by the pandemic. The project intervention included creation of a website and web-based patient education video library for patients served by the partnering organization. The DNP project implementation period ran from February 1, 2021 through April 29, 2021 and included patients who lived in North Carolina and had received an order for a new back brace from the partnering organization. During the implementation period, each patient who received a new back brace was instructed to view the website and video library. Surveys were sent to each participant. Results showed that 75% of patients viewed the website and video portal as instructed. All patients who watched the educational videos reported improvement in their understanding of proper back brace use. The project results support the efficacy and utility of web-based patient education programs.