The Impact of Medical TV Drama in Improving Literacy on Neurocysticercosis

Overview

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

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.