ConcussED: Comics as Discharge Instructions

Graphic Medicine is a growing field that seeks to capture the individual experience with illness and the healthcare system through visual narrative, ie. comics and graphic novels (graphicmed.org). Comics are increasingly being used in education; their efficacy in helping students learn material has been shown in small studies.

Currently, patient education in the Emergency Department occurs at the time of discharge through the physician, nurse, or text-based discharge instructions. Several studies have suggested low comprehension and a higher than average required reading level of discharge instructions. To our knowledge, no other visual-based discharge instructions directed towards adolescents and children exist. To this effect, we created a 2 page comic for the adolescent patient to supplement text-based discharge instructions for the parents.