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Developing cartoons for long-term condition self-management information

Developing cartoons for long-term condition self-management information
Developing cartoons for long-term condition self-management information
Background: advocating the need to adopt more self-management policies has brought with it an increasing demand for information about living with and making decisions about long-term conditions, with a significant potential for using cartoons. However, the purposeful use of cartoons is notably absent in many areas of health care as is evidence of their acceptability to patients and lay others. This paper outlines the process used to develop and evaluate cartoons and their acceptability for a series of self-management guidebooks for people with inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods: principles for a process to develop information and cartoons were developed. Cartoon topics were created using qualitative research methods to obtain lay views and experiences. The CKD guidebook was used to provide a detailed exemplar of the process. Focus group and trial participants were recruited from primary care CKD registers. The book was part of a trial intervention; selected participants evaluated the cartoons during in-depth interviews which incorporated think-aloud methods.

Results: in general, the cartoons developed by this process depict patient experiences, common situations, daily management dilemmas, making decisions and choices and the uncertainties associated with conditions. CKD cartoons were developed following two focus groups around the themes of getting a diagnosis; understanding the problem; feeling that facts were being withheld; and setting priorities. Think-aloud interviews with 27 trial participants found the CKD cartoons invoked amusement, recognition and reflection but were sometimes difficult to interpret.

Conclusion: humour is frequently utilised by people with long-term conditions to help adjustment and coping. Cartoons can help provide clarity and understanding and could address concerns related to health literacy. Using cartoons to engage and motivate people is a consideration untapped by conventional theories with the potential to improve information to support self-management.
patient information, cartoons, health literacy, self-management, long-term conditions
1472-6963
Kennedy, Anne
e059c1c7-d6d0-41c8-95e1-95e5273b07f8
Rogers, Anne
105eeebc-1899-4850-950e-385a51738eb7
Blickem, Christian
cc3228ac-f56e-4dca-9aae-cbb6bfac4fb3
Daker-White, Gavin
9b0569ff-aba1-41d1-a1ca-3852ef7677a6
Bowen, Robert
8a2fb064-d46c-4545-a6e5-ea07095721c5
Kennedy, Anne
e059c1c7-d6d0-41c8-95e1-95e5273b07f8
Rogers, Anne
105eeebc-1899-4850-950e-385a51738eb7
Blickem, Christian
cc3228ac-f56e-4dca-9aae-cbb6bfac4fb3
Daker-White, Gavin
9b0569ff-aba1-41d1-a1ca-3852ef7677a6
Bowen, Robert
8a2fb064-d46c-4545-a6e5-ea07095721c5

Kennedy, Anne, Rogers, Anne, Blickem, Christian, Daker-White, Gavin and Bowen, Robert (2014) Developing cartoons for long-term condition self-management information. BMC Health Services Research, 14, [60]. (doi:10.1186/1472-6963-14-60).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Background: advocating the need to adopt more self-management policies has brought with it an increasing demand for information about living with and making decisions about long-term conditions, with a significant potential for using cartoons. However, the purposeful use of cartoons is notably absent in many areas of health care as is evidence of their acceptability to patients and lay others. This paper outlines the process used to develop and evaluate cartoons and their acceptability for a series of self-management guidebooks for people with inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods: principles for a process to develop information and cartoons were developed. Cartoon topics were created using qualitative research methods to obtain lay views and experiences. The CKD guidebook was used to provide a detailed exemplar of the process. Focus group and trial participants were recruited from primary care CKD registers. The book was part of a trial intervention; selected participants evaluated the cartoons during in-depth interviews which incorporated think-aloud methods.

Results: in general, the cartoons developed by this process depict patient experiences, common situations, daily management dilemmas, making decisions and choices and the uncertainties associated with conditions. CKD cartoons were developed following two focus groups around the themes of getting a diagnosis; understanding the problem; feeling that facts were being withheld; and setting priorities. Think-aloud interviews with 27 trial participants found the CKD cartoons invoked amusement, recognition and reflection but were sometimes difficult to interpret.

Conclusion: humour is frequently utilised by people with long-term conditions to help adjustment and coping. Cartoons can help provide clarity and understanding and could address concerns related to health literacy. Using cartoons to engage and motivate people is a consideration untapped by conventional theories with the potential to improve information to support self-management.

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1472-6963-14-60 - Version of Record
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More information

Accepted/In Press date: 5 February 2014
e-pub ahead of print date: 8 February 2014
Published date: 8 February 2014
Keywords: patient information, cartoons, health literacy, self-management, long-term conditions
Organisations: Faculty of Health Sciences

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 362971
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/362971
ISSN: 1472-6963
PURE UUID: 3cabdbff-dbd0-4a19-99cb-5154253a6efe
ORCID for Anne Kennedy: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-4570-9104

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Date deposited: 18 Mar 2014 14:30
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 16:16

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Contributors

Author: Anne Kennedy ORCID iD
Author: Anne Rogers
Author: Christian Blickem
Author: Gavin Daker-White
Author: Robert Bowen

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