Forcing Ix on the System: Video Ix for My 5-Year-Old
By Josh Seidman | Popularity: 25%Despite the personalized attention I get in our pediatrician’s office and their general responsiveness to calls — both to their own nurse call line and during on-call hours — I find certain aspects of this 20th-century practice frustrating. The most important ongoing issue relates (not surprisingly) to the one chronic condition we have to manage: The intermittent asthma of my youngest son, 5-year-old Ryan.
Back in April, at the height of Washington’s spring allergy season, I wrote about my frustration in feeling unprepared to help Ryan in crisis. After another asthma flare-up two weeks ago when Ryan had a mild fever, I decided that I needed to take a more active caregiver role. It was time to become an “im-patient consumer.”
The first need to address was the idea I had back in April — empowering Ryan and his family to feel confident in using an inhaler and spacer when he needs albuterol (rescue medication) immediately.
Step 1: I ordered a Flip Video cam via Amazon.
Step 2: I told Ryan that we were going to the pediatric allergist’s office and I’d videotape the doctor showing Ryan how to use the inhaler. To which Ryan responded with high face lighting up, “Cool!”
Step 3: At the outset of the visit, I explained the issue to our doctor and I instructed him that I would videotape him demonstrating use of the inhaler and spacer to Ryan.
Step 4: I filmed two approximately 30-second video segments — first, facing the doctor and second, facing Ryan.
Step 5: When I got home, using FlipShare, I quickly emailed the videos to my wife and Ryan’s grandparents with copy to me (the people most likely to be present when Ryan needed help with his asthma).
Step 6: I sat down with Ryan to watch the videos. I don’t know about your 5-year-olds, but with mine, just about the only thing cooler than playing on Daddy’s computer is watching video of himself on Daddy’s computer.
Step 7: We’ll continue to watch and practice until he (and his parents) feel comfortable that he can use the inhaler well enough to get the medicine he needs to help him breathe more comfortably when he’s wheezing and coughing. Ryan may not yet be able to define “self-efficacy” but we’ll all know it when we see it.
Result: I have an empowered 5-year-old at home now.
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September 30th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
[…] Article Josh Seidman, Information Therapy (Ix) Blog, 30 September 2009 SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: “Forcing Ix on the System: Video Ix for My 5-Year-Old”, url: “http://articles.icmcc.org/2009/09/30/forcing-ix-on-the-system-video-ix-for-my-5-year-old/” }); […]
October 10th, 2009 at 8:01 pm
I just read about educational uses of Flip Video in http://www.elearnmag.org/subpage.cfm?section=articles&article=98-1 and was contemplating how to use one myslef when I read your post. I wonder how much of th effectiveness is due to the nature of visual information (differentiated instruction?) and how much to the toy-like nature of the camera?
I just wrote about my introduction to health literacy and one of the responses (from my father-in-law) was about how audio could be used to record a consultation. Would video be even better? Would doctors be amenable to either for all or part of a visit?
October 13th, 2009 at 9:44 am
Lisa,
These are good questions, and I’ll take a stab at them.
RE: “I wonder how much of th effectiveness is due to the nature of visual information (differentiated instruction?) and how much to the toy-like nature of the camera?”
I’d say it’s a combination of two things: 1) Not only visual information, but moving video has a lot of promise as an educational tool when used correctly. As I’ve said before: If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a video is worth 10,000. 2) Although the convenience of the Flip Video makes it easy to use in the doctor’s office, the more important technology application here is the app that makes download and emailing so quick and convenient — no wires, fairly quick (for short videos) and no instructions necessary.
RE: “…about how audio could be used to record a consultation. Would video be even better?”
I think audio or video could be valuable in the same way that textual after-visit summaries (AVSs) are (which I have written about many times before). Audio & video will provide even greater detail in some cases. In other situations, however, an AVS (emphasis here on the S) may provide more value via less information (or at least better SUMMARIZED information). Wading through a tape or video of whole visit for the most important or hardest to recall/understand information may be arduous in certain circumstances.
October 13th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
Thanks for answering my questions. I would like to blog this on my blog and quote you if that’s okay with you.
I gave a talk on Social Media Strategies tonight http://BostonCHI.org and your father was there - I know him from the program committee.
Small world!
October 14th, 2009 at 5:49 am
Small world, indeed! I often ask the riddle: What happens when you breed an information systems engineer (computer programmer, a.k.a. my dad) with an information scientist (a librarian, a.k.a. my mom)? You get an information therapist (moi).
Feel free to quote/reference, and let me know where you post.