Background: Knowledge is a very important tool in coping with chronic diseases. A comic book format was found to increase disease knowledge among patients with diabetes.
Objective: To examine whether the comic book "Neta and the Medikids Explain JIA" would improve disease related knowledge and compliance of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).
Methods: JIA patients answered 20 multiple choice knowledge questions about their disease, before and after reading the comic book. Demographic, clinical and health related quality of life data were recorded and correlated to knowledge.
Results: We studied 83 patients, mean age 14 ± 3.3 (8-18) years, 67 % females, 33% males, 83% Jewish, 17% non Jewish. 39% had Oligoarthritis, 13% Systemic and 48% Polyarticular/Psoriatic JIA. 46% had active disease, 40% were currently treated with biologics/DMARDs, 34% were in remission on medication. Among the 48 patients who completed both before and after questionnaires, correct answers improved from 62.5% to 81% (P<0.001). Arab patients had an initial lower score of 48%, which increased to 79%.
17 patients who also answered the questionnaires one year after reading the book retained their knowledge. We did not find a statistical significant correlation between knowledge and age, gender, ethnicity, disease type, and Child Health Questionnaire scores. The adherence to medication use, physiotherapy and follow-up rheumatologic visits were high at baseline, thus did not change after reading the book.
Conclusions: The comic booklet "Neta and the Medikids Explain JIA" is a good educational tool for increasing disease related knowledge in children with JIA.
