Developing a Web-Based Comic for Newly Diagnosed Women With Breast Cancer: An Action Research Approach

Area of Science:

• Medical Humanities
• Health Communication
• Digital Health

Background:

• Personal narratives, including comics, are valuable for communicating cancer treatment and recovery.
• Few web-based comics exist specifically for breast cancer patients as decision-making aids.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development of an animated comic as a web-based tool for breast cancer surgery decision-making.
• To illustrate patient feelings, thoughts, and experiences from diagnosis through treatment.

Main Methods:

• Action research involving collaborative development and evaluation.
• In-depth interviews with breast cancer patients to gather experiences.
• Iterative comic creation with input from patients, surgeons, and IT professionals.

Main Results:

• An 8-chapter animated comic was created and hosted on a decision-aid website.
• The comic visually and audibly narrates the breast cancer journey, from diagnosis to treatment choices.
• Focus groups with patients evaluated the web-based animated comic.

Conclusions:

• The animated comic serves as a communication medium, illuminating emotional aspects of breast cancer.
• It functions as an information resource within a web-based decision aid, enhancing patient understanding.
• The tool has potential therapeutic value, facilitating self-reflection and self-healing for newly diagnosed patients.