Video offers a lot of promise to enhance healthcare staff training, and in the long term, it can change training techniques and lower your training expenses. A study involving 125 medical students indicated that video training is more effective over time than text-based instruction, and the results are comparable to live teaching sessions!

So how can you adopt video training in your clinic or hospital to ensure a good result while keeping costs down? Let’s find out!

Why use video to train healthcare professionals?

Visual learning

Video training provides a visual learning experience that allows healthcare professionals to see how procedures are performed and to visualize anatomy and physiology. This type of learning can be particularly effective for hands-on procedures, such as surgical techniques, as it allows the trainee to see the entire process from start to finish.

Standardization

Video training allows for the standardization of training across multiple locations and facilities. This means that all healthcare professionals receive the same level of training, regardless of where they are located. This can help ensure that all healthcare professionals are working to the same standard of care.

Flexibility

Video training can be accessed from anywhere and at any time. This means that healthcare professionals can fit their training around their work schedules and can access the training materials at their convenience.

Cost-effective

Video training can be a cost-effective way to train healthcare professionals, as it eliminates the need for expensive travel and accommodation costs associated with in-person training.

Improved retention

Studies have shown that video training can improve knowledge retention among healthcare professionals. This is because visual learning can be more engaging and memorable than other forms of training.

Remote learning

Video training can be especially beneficial during times of restricted movement or social distancing, such as during a pandemic. This means that healthcare professionals can continue their training remotely, even if they are unable to attend in-person training sessions.

Strategies to make video more effective for training medical personnel

Identify the training needs of healthcare professionals

The first step in creating an effective video training program is to identify the training needs of healthcare professionals. Before you create any content, you need to understand what your viewers are there to learn. This will help you to tailor your video training program to their specific needs and ensure it is relevant and useful.

You can conduct surveys or interviews to find out what topics trainees or new doctors are looking for. You can also look at industry trends and regulatory requirements to determine what topics are most important.

One great example of this step is the American Nurses Association’s (ANA) “Professional Development Needs Assessment” survey. The ANA conducted this survey to gather information about the learning needs and preferences of nurses across the United States. The results of the survey were used to develop a variety of educational resources, including online courses and webinars.

Create engaging and informative content

Once you’ve identified the training needs of healthcare professionals, it’s time to create content that is engaging and informative. Keep in mind that healthcare professionals are busy, so it’s important to create content that is concise and easy to digest. Use visuals, animations, and real-life examples to make the content more engaging.

You should also make sure that the content is accurate and up-to-date. Healthcare professionals need to be confident that the information they are learning is reliable and based on the latest research and best practices.

The University of Michigan’s Medicine department is an excellent example. They offer a variety of video training resources on topics such as medical terminology, patient care, and clinical skills. Their videos are well-produced and feature experts in the field, making them both engaging and informative.

Use a variety of delivery methods

People learn in different ways, so it’s important to use a variety of delivery methods to reach as many healthcare professionals as possible. Some people prefer to read, while others prefer to watch videos or listen to podcasts.

The American Heart Association, for instance, uses a variety of delivery methods for its training programs to ensure that its program reaches the widest possible audience of healthcare professionals. They offer both online courses and in-person training sessions, as well as a variety of educational resources such as infographics and handouts.

Ensure accessibility

It’s important to ensure that your video training program is accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. This means making sure that your videos are captioned and that any accompanying materials are available in alternative formats, such as audio or Braille.

The National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) is an excellent example of this. They provide a variety of resources for people with disabilities, including captioning and audio descriptions for their videos. They also offer materials in alternative formats such as Braille and large print.

Make it interactive

One of the benefits of video training programs is that they can be interactive. Use quizzes and other interactive elements to engage healthcare professionals and help them to retain the information they are learning. This will also help you to track their progress and ensure that they are mastering the material. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s (AHRQ) TeamSTEPPS program, for instance, is great at making video training programs interactive. TeamSTEPPS is an evidence-based teamwork system designed to improve communication and teamwork among healthcare professionals.

The program includes a variety of interactive videos and scenarios that allow healthcare professionals to practice and apply their skills in a safe and controlled environment.

Provide ongoing support

Creating a video training program is just the first step. To ensure that healthcare professionals are able to apply what they’ve learned, it’s important to provide ongoing support.

The National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) works tirelessly to provide ongoing support for healthcare professionals. They offer a variety of resources for their members, including online forums, webinars, and mentorship programs. These resources help ensure that healthcare professionals are able to apply what they’ve learned and continue to improve their skills over time.

Evaluate and revise

Finally, it’s important to evaluate the effectiveness of your video training program and revise it as needed. Collect feedback from healthcare professionals and use that feedback to improve your content and delivery methods. This will help you to ensure that your video training program is always relevant and useful.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) regularly collects feedback from healthcare professionals and uses that feedback to improve their educational resources. For example, the AAP recently updated its “Neonatal Resuscitation Program” video training program to incorporate the latest research and best practices.

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