The Impact of Medical TV Drama in Improving Literacy on Neurocysticercosis

November 26, 2025 updated by: Emeka Okeke, Cephas Health Research Initiative Inc, Ibadan, Nigeria

The Impact of Medical TV Drama in Improving Literacy on Neurocysticercosis: An Online Open-Label Two-Arm Randomized Controlled Trial

This randomized controlled trial evaluates whether exposure to a medical television drama improves knowledge of neurocysticercosis (NCC) among young adults. Sixty participants aged 18-35 will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group, which will watch a medically relevant TV episode (House M.D., Season 1, Episode 1), or a control group with no media exposure. Both groups will complete pre- and post-test questionnaires assessing knowledge of NCC. The primary outcome is change in NCC-related knowledge. Secondary outcomes include motivation to seek further health information and perceived credibility of the media source

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a parasitic infection of the central nervous system caused by the larval stage of Taenia solium, the pork tapeworm. It is one of the leading preventable causes of epilepsy worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Despite this, awareness and understanding of NCC remain low among young adults, who often play a key role in disseminating health information within their families and communities. Conventional health education efforts have had limited success in increasing public literacy about NCC, underscoring the need for innovative, engaging communication strategies.

This study uses an open-label, two-arm randomized controlled trial design to evaluate whether exposure to a medical television drama can improve knowledge of NCC among young adults. The trial will be conducted entirely online to enable participation from a geographically diverse population and to reflect modern media consumption patterns. After providing electronic informed consent, eligible participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention or control group in a 1:1 ratio using a computer-generated allocation process to ensure randomization integrity.

Participants in the intervention group will watch House M.D., Season 1, Episode 1 - a medically themed television episode featuring a dramatized case of parasitic brain infection with conceptual relevance to NCC. The control group will not view the episode during the study period but will be offered access to the same content after data collection is complete. Both groups will complete structured online questionnaires before and after the intervention period to measure changes in NCC-related knowledge and attitudes. These questionnaires have been developed and validated through expert review and pilot testing.

The trial's primary objective is to determine whether viewing the medical TV drama improves knowledge of NCC, as measured by changes in pre- and post-intervention knowledge scores. Secondary objectives include assessing participants' motivation to learn more about NCC and their perception of the credibility of the TV drama as an educational resource. Statistical analyses will include paired and independent t-tests (or corresponding non-parametric tests where appropriate), with significance set at p < 0.05.

Data will be collected securely using encrypted online survey platforms. All responses will be anonymized, and no personally identifiable information will be stored. Data access will be limited to the research team, and all procedures will comply with international data protection standards.

This trial is designed in accordance with the CONSORT guidelines for randomized behavioral and educational interventions. Ethical approval has been obtained from the Research Ethics Committee of Caleb University, Nigeria, and the study will adhere to the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki (1964). Participation is voluntary, and participants may withdraw at any time before data analysis without consequence.

This research is innovative in its use of entertainment-education as a vehicle for improving disease literacy. By evaluating the effect of a medical TV drama on public knowledge of NCC, the study aims to provide evidence for scalable, cost-effective, and culturally adaptable strategies for health communication in resource-limited settings. The findings are expected to contribute to global public health education efforts, particularly those addressing neglected parasitic diseases and preventable causes of epilepsy.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
60

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Aged 18 to 35 years
  • Proficient in English (reading and comprehension)
  • Has access to a stable internet connection
  • Possesses a screen-enabled device (e.g., smartphone, tablet, or computer)
  • Has access to the Netflix streaming platform

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Has formal education in medical or health sciences
  • Has a prior diagnosis of neurocysticercosis (NCC)
  • Has previously participated in any NCC-related health literacy or awareness program
  • Lacks access to the Netflix movie platform
  • Below 18 years or above 35 years of age

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Intervention (House M.D. Episode)
Participants in this arm will watch a selected episode of the medical television drama House M.D. (Season 1, Episode 1), which features a dramatized case of neurocysticercosis. The intervention is designed to provide narrative-based exposure to information relevant to the disease. Participants will complete pre- and post-intervention questionnaires assessing knowledge, motivation, and credibility.
Behavioral: Medical TV Drama Episode (House M.D.)
Participants in the experimental group will watch a selected episode of the medical drama House M.D. (Season 1, Episode 1), which includes a dramatized storyline relevant to neurocysticercosis. The episode is intended to deliver narrative-based health education. After viewing, participants will complete post-test questionnaires assessing changes in knowledge, motivation, and credibility compared to pre-test results.
Other Names:
  • House M.D. Season 1, Episode 1
No Intervention: Control (No Episode)
Participants in this arm will not receive any exposure to medical television content during the study period. They will complete the same pre- and post-intervention questionnaires as the intervention group, allowing comparison of changes in knowledge, motivation, and credibility.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Neurocysticercosis (NCC) Knowledge Score
Time Frame: Baseline and immediately post-intervention (within 1 hour)
Knowledge of neurocysticercosis (NCC) will be assessed using the Neurocysticercosis Knowledge Questionnaire, a 10-item multiple-choice instrument developed for this study. Each correct answer is scored as 1 point, and each incorrect or "I don't know" response is scored as 0 points. The total score represents the sum of correct answers, with a minimum possible score of 0 and a maximum possible score of 10. Higher scores indicate better knowledge of NCC across domains such as cause, transmission, symptoms, prevention, and treatment. The primary outcome is the change in total knowledge score from baseline (pre-test) to immediately post-intervention, compared between the intervention and control groups
Baseline and immediately post-intervention (within 1 hour)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Retention of Neurocysticercosis Knowledge
Time Frame: 4 weeks post-intervention.

Knowledge retention will be assessed using the Neurocysticercosis Knowledge Questionnaire, the same 10-item multiple-choice instrument used at baseline and immediately post-intervention. Each correct answer is scored as 1 point, and incorrect or "I don't know" responses are scored as 0 points. The total score is the sum of correct responses, with a minimum possible score of 0 and a maximum possible score of 10. Higher scores indicate better retention of NCC knowledge.

The outcome measure is the change in total knowledge score from baseline (pre-test) to 4 weeks post-intervention, as well as between-group differences in retained knowledge over time.
4 weeks post-intervention.
Perceived Credibility of the Medical TV Drama
Time Frame: Immediately post-intervention (within 1 hour).

Perceived credibility of the medical TV drama as a health information source will be measured using the Perceived Credibility of Health Media Scale, a 5-item Likert-type scale adapted for this study. Each item is rated from 1 ("Strongly Disagree") to 5 ("Strongly Agree"), assessing dimensions such as trustworthiness, accuracy, and believability of the episode's medical content. Scores for all items will be summed to produce a total credibility score, with a minimum possible score of 5 and a maximum possible score of 25. Higher scores indicate greater perceived credibility and trust in the medical TV drama as a reliable health education resource.

The outcome measure is the mean total credibility score immediately following the intervention, compared between the intervention and control groups.
Immediately post-intervention (within 1 hour).
Motivation to Seek Further Health Information
Time Frame: Immediately post-intervention (within 1 hour).

Participants' motivation to seek additional information about neurocysticercosis (NCC) will be assessed using the Motivation to Seek Health Information Scale, a single-item 5-point Likert-type measure adapted for this study. Participants will rate their likelihood of looking for more information about NCC following the intervention, with response options ranging from 1 ("Not at all likely") to 5 ("Extremely likely"). Scores range from 1 to 5, where higher scores indicate greater motivation to seek additional health information.

The outcome will be reported as the mean motivation score immediately post-intervention and compared between the intervention and control groups.
Immediately post-intervention (within 1 hour).

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Cephas Health Research Initiative Inc, Ibadan, Nigeria

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
December 15, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
February 15, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
April 15, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
September 28, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 28, 2025

First Posted (Estimated)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
October 6, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
December 4, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 26, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
November 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • CUL25/NCC/001

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data will not be shared.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Clinical Trials on Epilepsy

Search Similar Trials

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

Cookie Settings

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For more details carefully read our Privacy and Cookies Policy. ...>>>You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by deleting the cookies from your website or computer as described in the policy. Please accept it and choose your preferences by ticking the corresponding boxes in the "Manage Settings" section below. Please carefully read our Terms of Service before you proceed with using any part of this website.
«Manage Settings