Early Results for Management of Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome in a New Program

Abstract

S Heart, Lung and CirculationAbstracts S235 2011;20S:S156-S251 efficient development and distribution of educational information.Aims: We sought to measure parental knowledge and how it can be improved through an educational DVD program.Methods: A DVD program was created using Adobe Flash, and covered four common congenital heart conditions: ventricular septal defects, Fallot's Tetralogy, transposition of the great arteries and tricuspid atresia. This interactive program described the normal heart, the specific abnormality, its diagnosis, management and prognosis. A combination of text, photographs, cartoon illustrations, cartoon animations and narrated videos were used to explain each concept in lay terms. The DVD was evaluated prospectively using three repeated written questionnaires administered prior to parents receiving the DVD, immediately afterwards, and one month later. Comparisons were made with a control group that did not receive the DVD. Theory-based questions not related to the DVD were used to measure parents' knowledge gleaned from other sources. Parents also evaluated the DVD. Results:The DVD has been successfully developed for MAC and PC computers. To date, about half of a planned sample of 100 parents has been recruited. Cardiologist and parent feedback on the DVD has been positive. A deficit in parental knowledge has been confirmed.Conclusion: The DVD has been positively received, with an anticipated improvement in parental knowledge of their child's cardiac abnormality.Introduction: Surgery for hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) has been routinely offered in NSW since 2009, prior to which selected cases were performed. We report early outcomes for this program.