Video-based education is non-inferior to in-person education in patients undergoing arthroscopic partial meniscectomy: a non-inferiority randomized controlled trial

Introduction: Reduced self-efficacy and high kinesiophobia levels affect recovery after arthroscopic partial meniscectomy. Video-based patient education represents an alternative approach to in-person education to support postoperative management and home-based rehabilitation in these patients. The study investigated whether preoperative video-based patient education was non-inferior to postoperative in-person education on pain-related self-efficacy and assessed the effects of such an approach on disability and fear of movement in patients undergoing arthroscopic partial meniscectomy. Methods: One hundred sixty-six patients undergoing arthroscopic partial meniscectomy were randomized into a video-based (n = 83) or control group (n = 83). The video-based group received a video clip including educational content and home-based exercises within 5 days before surgery, while the control group received in-person education and instructions for home-based exercises a few hours after surgery. Participants were assessed for self-efficacy (Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire - PSEQ), knee function (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index - WOMAC), and kinesiophobia (Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia - TSK) 5 days before surgery (T0), after the 2-week training (T1), and 6 weeks after surgery (T2). Results: Video-based education was non-inferior to in-person education for PSEQ scores at T1 (MD: -0.6, 1-sided 95% lower bound: -3.8) and T2 (MD: -0.5, 1-sided 95% lower bound: -3.5). Moreover, the video-based group revealed a better TSK score than the control group at T2, while no between-group differences over time were found for WOMAC. Conclusions: Preoperative video-based education was not inferior to postoperative in-person education on pain-related self-efficacy and revealed reduced fear of movement in patients undergoing arthroscopic partial meniscectomy.