The Treatment Compliance Challenge

For healthcare providers the biggest challenge is getting patients to follow their treatment plans. From taking meds correctly to doing physical therapy exercises, compliance is key to good health outcomes. Unfortunately non-compliance is a big problem and can lead to worse conditions, more hospital visits and higher healthcare costs.

This is where video content comes in. Healthcare videos are proving to be a powerful tool for patient understanding, motivation and adherence to treatment plans. But what is it about videos that make them so effective? Let’s dive in and see how healthcare videos are changing treatment compliance and ultimately patient outcomes.

The Impact of Non-Compliance: Why It Matters

Non-compliance with treatment plans represents a serious risk to patient health, far beyond a mere inconvenience. Research from the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals that 20–30% of medication prescriptions are never filled and approximately 50% of medications for chronic diseases are not taken as prescribed. This poor adherence can result in severe health complications, repeated hospital readmissions, and even fatalities. The repercussions extend to the social level, affecting not just individual patients but the broader community. 

The economic burden is also significant, with non-compliance costing the global healthcare system hundreds of billions of pounds annually due to avoidable hospitalisations and treatments. Prioritising treatment compliance is crucial not only for patient wellbeing but also for the overall sustainability of healthcare systems.

How Videos Work

So how can healthcare videos make a difference? Here’s a look at how video content is improving patient adherence to treatment plans.

1. Simplifying Complex Information

Medical information can be confusing, especially when patients are dealing with the stress of a new diagnosis or complex treatment plan. Written information can be hard to follow and even detailed conversations with healthcare providers can be forgotten.

Healthcare videos simplify this information using visual demonstrations, step-by-step guides and plain language. For example a video showing how to use an inhaler correctly can be more effective than written instructions alone, so patients use their meds as prescribed.

Reference: A study in Patient Education and Counseling found patients who received video education had better understanding of their treatment and were more likely to adhere to medical recommendations than those who received standard written information.

2. Making Information Stick

One reason video is so effective is it engages multiple senses so the information is more memorable. People retain 95% of a message when they see it in a video compared to 10% when they read text. So patients are more likely to remember key details about their treatment from medication dosages to lifestyle changes they need to make.

Videos that use animations, visual aids and storytelling can break down complex medical information and make sure patients really understand what they’re being told.

Example: An animated video explaining how a medication works in the body can show patients why they need to take it consistently, so they understand why adherence is important.

3. Patient Engagement and Motivation

Healthcare videos can also motivate patients to stick to their treatment plans by making the content engaging and relevant. Seeing a friendly healthcare provider on screen, watching testimonials from other patients or a success story can inspire people to take their health seriously.

Emotional storytelling and visual cues make the treatment plan feel more achievable and less scary. For example a video of a patient who has managed their diabetes through diet and exercise can encourage others to do the same.

Motivational Impact: A report in JMIR Medical Education found educational videos not only improve patient knowledge but also boost motivation to adhere to treatment plans which leads to better outcomes.

4. Personalised Video Content for Customised Guidance

Personalisation is key in modern healthcare and videos can be customised to address the specific needs of individual patients. Personalised healthcare videos can be created for different conditions, demographics or even language preferences so the content is more relevant and accessible.

For example a patient recovering from knee surgery might receive a customised video series showing specific exercises to aid recovery, with instructions tailored to their progress and limitations. This type of targeted content makes it easier for patients to follow through with their care plans.

Efficiency Insight: Personalised videos can be more effective than one-size-fits-all content as they address the individual concerns and circumstances of each patient.

Conclusion: The Future of Adherence is Visual

Healthcare videos are proving to be a vital tool for improving adherence and patient outcomes. By simplifying complex information, making it memorable, engaging patients emotionally and offering customised guidance videos can bridge the gap between healthcare providers and patients. As healthcare technology advances the role of video content will only get bigger.

For healthcare providers looking to improve patient education and treatment adherence investing in professional healthcare video production can make a big impact. Clear, engaging and patient specific videos can lead to better health outcomes and a more efficient healthcare system overall.

Start exploring the possibilities of healthcare videos today, and make a difference in how your patients engage with and adhere to their treatment plans.