Human attention span is shorter than ever and patients often lack the focus to understand the instructions physicians are providing. Low patient understanding leads to low patient adherence and a higher risk of readmission. That’s why physicians are forced to search for new, effective tools for patient education.
Statistics show that more people respond to video content than any other type of content on the web. More than 80% of people would rather watch a video about a medical procedure than read text-based info about it. And for a good reason. Videos are fun, undemanding, and can pack a bunch of information into a brief time period.
And medical conditions are not an exception. Animated videos are a perfect tool for educating patients about their condition. Patients like watching video content and are more likely to adopt visual information than oral instructions.
Better patient education leads to better patient satisfaction and reduced risk of readmission. There are several different ways healthcare professionals can use videos to educate patients. From explaining a surgical procedure to post-operation instructions, here are three ways you can use video to engage your patients.
Educate patients
Heading to surgery is a frightful and stressful event for a patient. They can’t help but wonder if everything will be OK. But good patient education can improve understanding and reduce fear. And videos are a powerful tool in any patient education strategy. Use videos to explain the basics of the upcoming surgery to patients.
Animated videos are a great non-threatening way to show surgical procedures to patients since they can show the important parts of the procedures without showing blood, scalpels, cuts or anything else that can additionally scare their patients. Also, animation has the ability to show just the relevant parts of the human body thus allowing patients to focus on the procedure ahead without distractions.
Pre-op instructions
When it comes to surgeries many doctors rely on written pre-op instructions or the verbal approach to transmit information. But patients under stress are not always capable of fully understanding verbal instructions. And there’s always a danger that your pre-op pamphlet will remain unread.
That is why doctors should try to provide their patients with video instructions. The pre-op video should include info about how to prepare for surgery. And frequently asked questions about their procedure. The video can be placed on the website or emailed directly to the patient. This will ensure that patients understand the procedure and that they take all necessary pre-operative steps.
Getting Patients to Comply
Videos can be a perfect tool for educating patients even after the operation. Animated videos are especially useful to get people to adhere to post-operative instructions. Patient adherence is a huge medical problem that many HCP are struggling to resolve.
Studies have shown that as many as 40% of patients fail to adhere to treatment recommendations provided to them by physicians. A high number of dropouts leads to higher death rates, particularly among chronic patients.
An explainer video can be a great way to strengthen the bond between patients and doctors. And to get patients to stick to their treatment as complex as they may be. Animated videos and patient testimonials are particularly appropriate for the purpose as people identify with animated characters and people on the screen.
Their stories can be both educational and inspiring.
These were some of the ways healthcare professionals can use videos to help patients. Videos increase understanding of medical conditions, clinical procedures, and the importance of adherence. If you used videos in your healthcare practice make sure to let us know how it worked out for you. In the meantime, subscribe here to learn more about how video can help educate and engage patients and physicians.