Comparing Video-Assisted and Verbal Explanations in Japanese Hospital Dentistry: Patient Evaluations in Third Molar Extraction and Medical-Dental Collaborative Care

Background Video-assisted explanations have been proposed to improve the clarity and standardization of informed consent, particularly under constraints such as provider shortages and the need to reduce face-to-face interactions during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, concerns persist about their emotional impact, especially for invasive procedures. This study aimed to evaluate how video-assisted explanations affect patients’ perceived clarity, appropriateness of explanation length, and emotional responses compared to traditional verbal explanations, in a Japanese hospital-based dental setting. Methods A total of 297 patients who received explanations about one of three topics—preoperative third molar extraction, postoperative home care following tooth extraction, or perioperative oral management (POM) for inpatients undergoing general surgery—were included. Patients received either standard verbal or video-assisted explanations. Chi-square tests were used to compare the number of patients rating clarity or time appropriateness as ≥ 8 or reporting increased anxiety (> 0), while Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare overall scores between groups. Results No statistically significant differences were observed between groups for any explanation topic. In the POM group—which primarily consisted of older patients with complex medical and surgical conditions—video-assisted explanations tended to receive more favorable ratings and were associated with fewer reports of increased anxiety. A slight trend toward increased anxiety was noted in the third molar extraction group receiving video explanations. Conclusion Although video-assisted explanations did not significantly outperform verbal explanations, they may support standardized and efficient communication—especially in multidisciplinary care settings requiring coordination among dental, medical, and other healthcare professionals.