The Power of Comics
July 16, 2025
In the landscape of healthcare communication, effectively conveying complex public health topics and reaching diverse audiences, particularly those with low general or health literacy, remains a significant challenge. Traditional text-heavy materials often fall short, struggling to capture attention and ensure comprehension.
According to a 2014 report from the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality Healthcare ‘almost 60% of adult Australians have low individual health literacy’ – this has myriad implications, including hindering an individual’s ability to effectively exercise choice or voice in vital healthcare decisions – posing a significant challenge for our industry: how do we effectively reach this huge portion of the population?
Enter Graphic Medicine. A term coined by Dr. Ian Williams in 2007, which refers to the use of visual storytelling forms like comics and graphic novels within healthcare. It’s an interdisciplinary field leveraging the combined power of words and pictures to transform how we engage with health information.
Why consider Graphic Medicine for your communications?
- Enhanced comprehension and recall: The visual format of comics significantly improves attention to and recall of health information, especially for individuals with low health literacy. It breaks down complex themes and experiences into easily digestible formats by pairing information with a narrative structure.
- Increased approachability and emotional Impact: Comics provide an approachable medium for presenting sensitive or difficult health topics, fostering emotional connection and empathy. This can reduce stigma around illness and create a safe space for discussion.
- Broader audience reach: People reluctant to engage with traditional materials or reference books or articles on health topics may find a comic more appealing, ensuring critical health information reaches a wider audience.
- Empowerment and engagement: Graphic medicine empowers individuals with knowledge, allowing for health literacy and illustrated informed consent, ultimately contributing to improved health outcomes.
Real world examples:
- Public health campaigns: The World Health Organisation has used comic strips to educate audiences on the risks and symptoms of water-borne diseases, demonstrating the effectiveness of the medium in conveying crucial information.
- Complex disease explanation: Visual narratives have proven useful in serious pathologies like cancer and public health pandemics such as COVID-19 and AIDS. Pfizer Australia leveraged graphic medicine to create a tool for parents to talk to their kids about a lung cancer diagnosis.
- Integrated care best practices: Illustrated case studies, such as those on integrated behavioural and physical health, provide an alternative learning pathway for healthcare providers, making complex information accessible and engaging.
Graphic medicine offers a compelling and effective solution for healthcare communicators seeking to demystify complex public health topics and connect with audiences across all literacy levels. By harnessing the unique narrative and visual power of comics, we can create more engaging, understandable, and impactful health messages.
Interested in considering if graphic medicine can be used to better reach your audience?
