Assessment of parent education methods for infant immunization

Objective: To assess whether a video about infant immunization could inform parents as well as human counselling (oral presentation). Methods: Core information for parents about infant immunization was identified and packaged in an instructional video and a scripted oral presentation. Volunteer prenatal classes were randomly assigned a video or oral presentation. Participants completed pre- and post-test questionnaires covering the same 16 items. Scores were compared for each question and as a group means, using Fisher's exact test, 2-sided. Results: 227 subjects participated, including 102 men and 124 women. Groups were similar in terms of gender mix, parenting experience and recent reading about immunization. Pre-test knowledge scores were similarly low between groups. Post-test scores were much higher but did not differ significantly between groups. Conclusions: In a prenatal classroom setting, video and oral presentations were equally effective in conveying key information about infant immunization.