Nearly half of patients leave healthcare visits without fully understanding their care instructions, according to PubMed Central? The root of this problem often lies in barriers to patient education. For healthcare professionals, identifying and addressing these barriers is essential to improving patient understanding, treatment adherence, and overall satisfaction.

To transform how you educate patients, explore our article discussing 6 common obstacles, simple strategies to overcome them, and a real-life example for better visualization. By the end, you’ll gain the tools to transform your patient education approach and improve outcomes.

6 Common Barriers to Patient Education and Solutions

Barriers to patient education can arise at different stages of the patient care journey, from diagnosis to ongoing treatment. Here, let’s explore 6 common obstacles healthcare professionals encounter and potential strategies to tackle them and improve patient understanding.

​​The table below highlights common barriers to patient education and their corresponding solutions, providing a quick overview of key challenges and strategies before diving deeper into each topic.

Type of Barrier	Description	Solutions
Language and culture	Language differences and cultural beliefs can hinder communication and understanding.	Use interpreters, multilingual materials, and show cultural respect with empathetic communication.
Physical and environmental	Noise, poor lighting, and inaccessible facilities reduce patient focus and participation.	Provide comfortable, accessible environments and alternative solutions like virtual consultations.
Psychological factors	Anxiety, stress, and lack of trust impact patients’ ability to engage in their care.	Build trust with empathy, active listening, and calm, supportive communication.
Mismatched learning styles	Patients have varied preferences, such as visual or hands-on learning.	Use multimodal approaches, including videos, infographics, written guides, and interactive tools.
Complex healthcare knowledge	Medical jargon and complex concepts can overwhelm patients.	Simplify terms with visual aids, animations, and relatable explanations.
Time constraints	Limited consultation time prevents thorough patient education.	Use digital tools like apps, e-learning modules, and video libraries for self-paced learning.

1. Language and culture barrier

One of the most common barriers to patient education is the language and cultural differences between patients and healthcare providers. When the patient speaks a different language or comes from diverse cultural backgrounds, it can be difficult for them to express their concerns or understand instructions. 

Cultural beliefs and values also shape their views on health and treatment, creating potential misunderstandings. These gaps can lead to frustration, confusion, or even non-adherence to treatment plans. For instance, a patient from a Hispanic background might prefer home remedies. If their cultural practices are overlooked, they may be less likely to follow through with medical treatments suggested by healthcare professionals.

So how can you prevent cultural differences from causing misunderstandings among patients To address this, healthcare providers can adopt culturally sensitive communication strategies. This includes using professional interpreters or translators to ensure accurate communication and creating multilingual materials tailored to diverse audiences. Professional interpreters can bridge communication gaps during critical care discussions, while multilingual videos or brochures allow patients to review instructions at their own pace. 

This is a patient education video for our client, iHeed. Given that the intended audience consists of patients from the Middle East, F. Learning Studio incorporated culturally relevant materials to establish a social context for them, which helps build resonance and trust.

2. Physical and environmental barriers

​​Physical and environmental factors can significantly hinder effective patient education. Patients with physical disabilities or mobility challenges such as paralysis, Parkinson’s disease, and vision impairments may also face additional obstacles in accessing educational resources or attending consultations. These individuals may struggle with physically accessing healthcare facilities, which can prevent them from attending in-person consultations or educational sessions.

Creating an accessible and comfortable environment is key to overcoming these barriers. Providing wheelchair-accessible consultation rooms and large-print educational materials can accommodate patients with mobility or visual challenges. For patients with physical challenges, offering alternative solutions like home visits, virtual consultations, or easily accessible educational materials like healthcare animation can help improve their healthcare experience.

In the video below, F. Learning Studio created a patient-friendly medical animation to explain the different symptoms of migraines. This helps patients understand the root causes of their health issues in a simple way and become more confident when making decisions. 

3. Psychological factors

Anxiety, stress, fear, or a lack of trust in healthcare providers can prevent patients from fully engaging or absorbing critical information. Plus, patients may feel overwhelmed by their diagnosis or treatment, further impacting their ability to participate actively in their care.

Many patients find it difficult to absorb critical information due to anxiety, fear, or a lack of trust. As a healthcare provider, how can you help them feel more at ease and supported during their care?

Healthcare providers can build trust by actively listening to patients’ concerns and validating their feelings. Providing reassurance and maintaining a calm, patient-centered approach can help reduce anxiety. Encouraging open communication works too, as it fosters a supportive environment where patients feel more comfortable and empowered to engage in their care.

4. Mismatched learning styles

Everyone is different, and so are their learning styles. According to ​​the VARK Model, people fall into four primary learning styles: visual learners, auditory learners, read/write learners, and kinesthetic learners. Thus, relying on a single method to deliver information can leave certain patients struggling to fully understand their care instructions.

Applying multi-modal approaches is key to meeting the diverse learning preferences of patients. Presenting information through videos, infographics, written guides, and interactive tools ensures patients can engage with the material in a way that suits them best. 

Videos, in particular, are highly effective in addressing patient education and health communication barriers as 65% of the population are visual learners. They ​​easily engage learners, enhance retention, and provide a consistent way to deliver clear, accessible information across diverse patient groups.

Take the animated video as an example. In just 90 seconds, it explains the definition, causes, and ​​common symptoms of heart failure with simple and engaging visuals. For visual learners, this animated explainer video helps them grasp complex medical concepts more effectively by turning information into engaging and easy-to-follow visuals.

5. Complexity of healthcare knowledge

Since only about 21% of adults have basic health literacy, and 14% fall below basic levels (Market.us Media), the complexity of healthcare knowledge is a big problem for them. For instance, explaining terms like “hypertrophic cardiomyopathy” may overwhelm patients without simplifying the concept. Instead, you should explain using simple language like this: “Your heart muscle has become thicker than normal, which makes it harder to pump blood”.

Visual aids such as illustrations, infographics, or animations can help by breaking down medical jargon into understandable visuals. For example, this video embraced a totally different approach to explain the differences between Heparin and Warfarin. It combines engaging visuals, the narrator’s explanation, and a touch of humor to break down complex medical concepts and lighten serious topics, making it easier for patients to engage with and understand.

6. Lack of time during consultations

Time constraints during consultations often limit the ability of healthcare providers to thoroughly educate patients. Studies reveal that the average primary care visit lasts less than 20 minutes, with providers often juggling multiple tasks, including reviewing medical history, diagnosing conditions, and prescribing treatments. This leaves limited time—sometimes just a few minutes—to thoroughly explain critical aspects. As a result, providers don’t have enough time to communicate important details about diagnoses, treatments, or procedures to patients. 

Leveraging digital education tools can help bridge this gap. Platforms like patient education apps, e-learning modules, or video libraries allow patients to access reliable information at their own pace. One notable example of a patient education app is Nucleus PatientEd. This app focuses on enhancing patient understanding through automated 3D animations that explain medical diagnoses and procedures in an approachable manner. Thus, patients are more likely to comprehend their health conditions and treatment options and actively participate in their healthcare journey.

Future of Patient Education in Healthcare

As healthcare continues to evolve, so does the approach to patient education. With technological advancements, the future of patient education is moving toward digital solutions, providing more personalized and accessible learning experiences. Check out the latest trends to be ahead of the curve and know how to transform patient education.

Increased use of digital tools

As patients grow increasingly tech-savvy, healthcare organizations are adopting advanced digital tools to enhance patient education. This shift includes online portals, mobile apps, and multimedia resources that provide on-demand access to reliable health information. Emerging technologies like interactive 3D models, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR) are also gaining traction, offering immersive ways to explain complex medical procedures. 

Multimedia learning

Patient education is leaning toward a rich blend of multimedia formats to address the diverse learning style barrier. Videos, infographics, virtual reality (VR) simulations, and live interactions with healthcare professionals are becoming integral to patient education strategies. This multimodal approach not only caters to different types of learners but also boosts information retention through engaging and interactive experiences.

Using animation 

Animation is increasingly integrated into patient education to bridge health literacy gaps and enhance understanding, engagement, and retention of medical information among patients. Compared to traditional pamphlets, it effectively simplifies complex concepts into engaging, universally understandable visuals. 

This video, released in the “Colorectal Awareness Month” campaign, eduacates patients about treatment options for colorectal cancer. Using vibrant backgrounds and characters, it helps alleviate the unease associated with topics like colorectal cancer and rectal bleeding. Additionally, symbols and abstractions were employed to illustrate complex terms such as colonoscopy, hemorrhoids, and colorectal cancer tumors.

Gamification

Gamification helps address barriers such as low health literacy and psychological factors. By making learning interactive and enjoyable, it reduces anxiety and boosts engagement, ensuring patients can better absorb and retain critical health information.

A notable example is Packy and Marlon, a game designed to help children manage juvenile diabetes. Its camp-themed approach led to a 77% reduction in emergency visits, demonstrating gamification’s potential to improve health management. Another example is the SuperBetter app, which inspires users to achieve self-improvement goals, from managing chronic conditions to enhancing mental and emotional resilience. 

With such success stories, gamified tools are set to redefine how patients learn and engage with their care.

F. Learning Studio can help you transform patient education with interactive designs like hotspots, drag-and-drop activities, and branching scenarios. Our tools make learning engaging and memorable, empowering patients to take charge of their care. Contact us to create impactful experiences that truly connect with your patient!

How F. Learning Studio Can Transform Patient Education

Expert in simplifying complex concepts for better education

At F. Learning Studio, we address common barriers to patient education by transforming complex medical information into clear and engaging animations. Our patient education solutions are tailored to bridge gaps in health literacy, adapt to various learning styles, and accommodate diverse cultural needs. By presenting information visually, we make it easier for patients to understand their health conditions and care instructions, leading to better health outcomes and overall experience.​​

A standout example is our collaboration with the Association of Migraine Disorders (AMD), which needed patient-friendly content to address the challenges of diagnosing migraines and educating diverse audiences.

We produced over 20 high-quality videos annually for AMD, ensuring medical accuracy and brand alignment while meeting tight deadlines. All of the videos were delivered quickly and cost-effectively, thanks to our library of 10,000+ healthcare illustrations and an optimized production process.

Within only nine months, the first video series chapter garnered 39,000 views and positive audience feedback, enhancing AMD’s public awareness campaigns and patient engagement strategies.

Affordable and flexible solutions for effective patient education

At F. Learning Studio, we offer animations tailored to your needs. Combined with the efficient production process that minimizes time and resource use, we ensure high quality while staying within budget. With flexibility and affordability at the core, we make patient education accessible and effective for every organization.

Handle big projects with ease

F. Learning Studio excels in managing large-scale projects with efficiency and clarity. Our streamlined workflow minimizes back-and-forth feedback, ensuring a smooth production process. Moreover, with a dedicated, full-function team for every project, we guarantee consistent quality and timely delivery for even the most ambitious patient education video series.

Conclusion

To empower patients in their healthcare journey, it’s essential to tackle common barriers to patient education, and this requires creative, patient-focused solutions. F. Learning Studio is offering exactly what you’re looking for. 

With expertise in creating customized animations that simplify and enrich patient education, we can help you bridge the gaps in education and connect with patients effectively. Let us partner with you to revolutionize patient education with impactful, accessible visuals. Book a FREE consultation and start your project today!

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