Behavior change in the funny papers: feedback to cartoonists on safety belt use.
A multiple baseline across 8 nationally syndicated cartoonists evaluated the effects of personal advocacy letters encouraging presentations of a specific prevention message--the depiction of safety belt use in comic strips showing motor vehicle occupants. During baseline these cartoonists depicted safety belt use in only 15% (6 of 41) of their strips with occupied vehicles, but following receipt of a personal letter requesting safety belt use 41% (42 of 102) of their strips depicted safety belt use. Four cartoonists showed clear and immediate increases in depiction of safety belt use, 2 demonstrated delayed and somewhat less consistent belt use, and 2 cartoonists showed no change. The approach and results are discussed with regard to advocacy efforts intended to influence presentation of prevention messages in the media.
Mathews
R M
RM
University of Kansas, Lawrence 66045.
Dix
M
M
D002359:Cartoons as Topic; D003254:Consumer Advocacy; D005246:Feedback; D016489:Head Injuries, Closed / Q000517:prevention & control; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007615:Kansas; D009524:Newspapers as Topic; D012622:Seat Belts; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control