Developing comic strips promoting diabetic retinopathy screening in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, using Intervention Mapping.
Claudette E Hall, Anthony B Hall, Joyse Mallya, Paul Courtright, Gerjo Kok
Author Information
Claudette E Hall: Maastricht University, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Work & Social Psychology, P.O. Box 616, MD, Maastricht, 6200, The Netherlands. claudetteghall@gmail.com.
Anthony B Hall: Newcastle Eye Hospital Research Foundation, Waratah, NSW, 2292, Australia.
Joyse Mallya: Kilimanjaro Centre for Community Ophthalmology, P.O. Box 2254, Moshi, Tanzania.
Paul Courtright: University of Cape Town, Division of Ophthalmology, Groote Schuur Hospital, Observatory, Cape Town, 7925, RSA.
Gerjo Kok: Maastricht University, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Work & Social Psychology, P.O. Box 616, MD, Maastricht, 6200, The Netherlands.
INTRODUCTION: Intervention Mapping is the protocol used by the Kilimanjaro Diabetic Programme to plan, develop, implement, and evaluate an evidence-based screening programme for diabetic retinopathy. Two comic strips were developed to deliver the message on the need for diabetic retinopathy screening. OBJECTIVES: The first objective was to develop a culturally appropriate and accessible health message to promote diabetic retinopathy screening for the target audience. The second objective was to deliver a motivational message to promote acceptance of diabetic retinopathy screening irrespective of past eye health behaviour. METHODS: A multi-method research design was used. Social cognitive theory provided the theoretical basis for the intervention, involving community participation to promote positive eye health behaviour. RESULTS: For the Draughts Comic Strip, Flesch-Kincaid readability was 75.7% and comprehension was 87.04%, and for the Soap Opera Comic Strip Flesch-Kincaid readability was 75.6% and comprehension was 86.54%. CONCLUSION: The development of the diabetic retinopathy comic strips was a positive health education strategy implemented during a clinical trial comparing methods of screening for diabetic retinopathy at the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre Hospital. The level of comprehension of the comic strips by stakeholders indicated their understanding of the message. Patients enroled in the clinical trial requested the comic strips. No discarded comic strips were found in the clinic during the clinical trial. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Trial registration number: ISRCTN31439939. Details available at https://www.isrctn.com/ .
References
BMJ Open. 2016 Feb 02;6(2):e010008
[PMID: 26839014]
