What is known about the impact of animated video-based interventions on patient outcomes? A scoping review
6 affiliations
- 1Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- 2Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire en réadaptation (CRIR), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- 3School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- 4School of Rehabilitation, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- 5Lung Transplant Program, University of Montreal Hospital Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- 6Centre for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Abstract
Objective: This scoping review examined the impact of animated video interventions on health-related outcomes among adults living with health conditions.
Design: Scoping review based on the methodological framework by Arksey and O’Malley, refined by the Joanna Briggs Institute and reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR).
Data sources: MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase, PsycINFO and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature were searched, with an initial search in March 2021 and an updated search in August 2025.
Eligibility criteria: English-language studies published since 1996, and of any design using animated videos targeting adults with any health condition and reported clinical, cognitive, behavioural, psychosocial or patient-reported outcomes.
Data extraction and synthesis: Two independent reviewers screened and charted data on study characteristics, intervention features, development processes and outcomes, and synthesised using numerical and thematic analysis.
Results: Of 4163 records screened, 154 full-text articles were assessed and 49 studies met the inclusion criteria, comprising 44 full-text papers (90%) and five conference abstracts (10%). Most were single-arm pre-post designs (n=21, 42.8%) or randomised controlled trials (n=18, 36.7%), with videos ranging from 50 s to 60 min and applied mainly to chronic conditions, including cancer (n=13, 26.5%), kidney disease (n=9, 18.4%) and stroke or cardiovascular disease (n=9, 18.4%). Thematic synthesis identified six domains: application across conditions and contexts, targeted outcomes, design and development processes, integration into rehabilitation, implementation strategies and accessibility. Reported benefits included improved health literacy, adherence, anxiety reduction, empowerment and symptom management. Only 15 studies (30.6%) described their video development process and two studies (4%) addressed rehabilitation content.
Conclusion: Animated videos show promise for enhancing patient knowledge, engagement and emotional well-being, but more rigorous, theory-informed research is needed.
Innovation: Unlike prior reviews focused on estimating the effectiveness of animated videos on defined outcomes, this scoping review maps the breadth of animated video interventions for adults with health conditions, charting the frameworks guiding video development, implementation strategies, accessibility considerations and integration within rehabilitation. This identifies priority areas for advancing theory-informed, equitable design of animation-based interventions.
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BibTeX
@article{menescal2026what,
title = {{What is known about the impact of animated video-based interventions on patient outcomes? A scoping review}},
author = {Fernanda Menescal and Matheus de Paiva Azevedo and Nicholas Bourgeois and Tania Janaudis-Ferreira},
journal = {BMJ Open},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1136/bmjopen-2026-117572},
url = {https://bmjopen.bmj.com/lookup/doi/10.1136/bmjopen-2026-117572},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - What is known about the impact of animated video-based interventions on patient outcomes? A scoping review
AU - Fernanda Menescal
AU - Matheus de Paiva Azevedo
AU - Nicholas Bourgeois
AU - Tania Janaudis-Ferreira
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - BMJ Open
DO - 10.1136/bmjopen-2026-117572
UR - https://bmjopen.bmj.com/lookup/doi/10.1136/bmjopen-2026-117572
AB - Objective: This scoping review examined the impact of animated video interventions on health-related outcomes among adults living with health conditions. Design: Scoping review based on the methodological framework by Arksey and O’Malley, refined by the Joanna Briggs Institute and reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Data sources: MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase, PsycINFO and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature were searched, with an initial search in March 2021 and an updated search in August 2025. Eligibility criteria: English-language studies published since 1996, and of any design using animated videos targeting adults with any health condition and reported clinical, cognitive, behavioural, psychosocial or patient-reported outcomes. Data extraction and synthesis: Two independent reviewers screened and charted data on study characteristics, intervention features, development processes and outcomes, and synthesised using numerical and thematic analysis. Results: Of 4163 records screened, 154 full-text articles were assessed and 49 studies met the inclusion criteria, comprising 44 full-text papers (90%) and five conference abstracts (10%). Most were single-arm pre-post designs (n=21, 42.8%) or randomised controlled trials (n=18, 36.7%), with videos ranging from 50 s to 60 min and applied mainly to chronic conditions, including cancer (n=13, 26.5%), kidney disease (n=9, 18.4%) and stroke or cardiovascular disease (n=9, 18.4%). Thematic synthesis identified six domains: application across conditions and contexts, targeted outcomes, design and development processes, integration into rehabilitation, implementation strategies and accessibility. Reported benefits included improved health literacy, adherence, anxiety reduction, empowerment and symptom management. Only 15 studies (30.6%) described their video development process and two studies (4%) addressed rehabilitation content. Conclusion: Animated videos show promise for enhancing patient knowledge, engagement and emotional well-being, but more rigorous, theory-informed research is needed. Innovation: Unlike prior reviews focused on estimating the effectiveness of animated videos on defined outcomes, this scoping review maps the breadth of animated video interventions for adults with health conditions, charting the frameworks guiding video development, implementation strategies, accessibility considerations and integration within rehabilitation. This identifies priority areas for advancing theory-informed, equitable design of animation-based interventions.
SN - 2044-6055
SN - 2044-6055
ER -