Exploring the potential impact of health promotion videos as a low cost intervention to reduce health inequalities: a pilot before and after study on Bangladeshis in inner-city London

BACKGROUND Coronary artery disease is the single most common cause of death in the UK. For those born in Bangladesh but dying in England and Wales, coronary artery disease causes 25% of all deaths. Cost-effective solutions are required to address this burden. Several studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of educational video intervention in informing patients in various settings. SETTING A Bangladeshi women's group in South London. QUESTIONS The effectiveness of a health educational video in influencing the knowledge and attitudes towards a preventable illness amongst Bangladeshis in London? The scope of videos for health promotion? METHODS An educational video on the signs, symptoms and prevention of coronary artery disease was played to a Bangladeshi women's group in South London in the Bengali language. Participants (n = 18, mean age = 53.7) completed a fifteen-question survey to assess their baseline knowledge prior to viewing (pre-test). The group then viewed the video and repeated the initial questionnaire, with additional questions to solicit their attitudes and perceptions (post-test). RESULTS The intervention significantly improved the basic knowledge of coronary artery disease. There was a statistically significant improvement in the number of correct responses amongst participants with p = 0.0002 (mean change 2.28, 95% CI 1.29-3.27) and in the number of unsure responses p = 0.0042 (mean change 1.83, 95% CI 0.01-3.01). Upon viewing the video, all participants agreed that they wanted to implement the advice from the video into their current lifestyles. CONCLUSION/DISCUSSION The educational video significantly improved the knowledge and attitudes pertaining to coronary artery disease amongst British-Bangladeshi individuals in the UK community setting. This project illustrated how commissioners may effectively utilise third-sector organisations through partnerships to implement innovative methods of health screening and promotion. Videos are a novel approach of providing culturally sensitive health education to ethnic minority groups, through screening in clinics and in local media.