Hello

I've recently carried out a small scale research project interviewing people who either have a health condition themselves or have a family member with a health condition about their impressions of health education comics.

The study found that educational comics can support understanding of factual health information through providing simple explanations free from jargon and through the effective use of images. However, they have an equal, or perhaps stronger, role to play in helping patients and their families to deal with the social and psychological issues associated with illness. Through the use of narrative, humour, images and characterisation, comics can offer reassurance, empathy and companionship. They can offer patients opportunities for greater self-awareness of their own attitudes and behaviour, as well as alternative viewpoints on their condition. Among family members, comics can lead to a better understanding of the issues their relative is facing and may prompt them to reflect on the ways in which they might best offer support. However, a barrier to the wider use of comics for health education is the widespread perception that they are only suited to light hearted or fantastic stories, or are just for children. The potential of comics to convey information about serious issues is not widely acknowledged and although opinions can be changed through experience of health education comics, initial responses may be dismissive.

You can download the report (or summary) at http://www.esri.mmu.ac.uk/resprojects/project_outline.php?project_id=157

I've collected together comics I came across during the project. These cover a range of conditions and you can find links at https://sites.google.com/site/healtheducationcomics/home
(please contact me if you are aware of other educational comics to add to the list)

Best wishes

Sarah