Can PowerPoint Save Lives? Assessment of Equity and Reach of Traditional Dissemination Channels in Geriatric Trauma Education - A Mixed-Methods Study using Digital Analytics

BackgroundCreation of resources for evidence-based clinical guidance does not necessarily improve patient outcomes without deliberate dissemination and implementation. We sought to better understand the effectiveness of pre-recorded didactics in improving knowledge as well as the reach of various information dissemination strategies. MethodsA mixed-methods study was conducted amongst all United States trauma care clinicians from March to August 2023. A 30-minute didactic video on anticoagulant management in geriatric traumatic brain injury (TBI), along with pre-and post-video knowledge surveys, was circulated via email, web, and social media accounts affiliated with 7 professional trauma societies as well as state and regional health departments. Digital analytics were captured, and descriptive and regression analyses conducted. ResultsThe didactic video was viewed 1,407 times on YouTube with a mean view time of 7 minutes. A total of 311 participants responded to the survey. Most were registered nurses (RNs) from urban, non-academic institutions with 11+ years of clinical experience. Only 16.1% of respondents correctly answered all pre-video knowledge questions (n=48/298); this increased to 51.6% post-video (n=94/182). Surgeons and advanced practice providers (APPs) (r=0.148, p<0.05), male respondents (r=0.131, p<0.05), and clinicians at higher-level trauma centers (r=-0.140, p<0.05) answered more pre-video questions correctly. With regard to general knowledge acquisition practices, surgeons and APPs were more likely than RNs to report primary use of literature (r=0.134, p<0.05) and point-of-care medical information (r=0.133, p<0.05). ConclusionViewing a recorded didactic was associated with improved knowledge of anticoagulation management in geriatric TBI. Trauma society-sponsored email is an effective means of information dissemination to urban, Level I/II trauma centers, but still fails to reach many rural and Level III/IV trauma centers. Given the low rate of correct pre-video answers and increase after viewing, further study is needed to better understand end-user needs to optimize dissemination and implementation of up-to-date clinical guidance. Level of EvidenceLevel IV; Survey and Web Analytics