Evaluating the effectiveness of a multimedia program on home safety

Purpose: This study was designed to test the effective-ness and acceptance of multimedia home safety pro-gramming by community-dwelling seniors. Design and Methods: A prototype CD-ROM was produced that required no reading or computer skills because the program included an audio narration of content and directions for operating the program on a touchscreen computer monitor. Volunteers (N5 126) from a senior center aged 55 and older were randomly assigned to (1) a multimedia group that used the interactive program to learn about home safety, (2) a traditional learning group that read well-established booklets on home safety, and (3) a control group that received no instruction on safety between the pre- and posttests. Results: Repeated-measures multivariate analysis of variance showed that the multimedia group was the only group to improve in knowledge. The group was also very satisfied with the approach. Implications: Multimedia formats can effectively and economically provide information to older clients