title: Comic strips help children understand medical research: targeting the informed consent procedure to children's needs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Children involved in medical research often fail to comprehend essential research aspects. In order to improve information provision, a participatory approach was used to develop new information material explaining essential concepts of medical research.
  
  
  METHODS
  A draft of a comic strip was developed by a science communicator in collaboration with pediatricians. The draft was presented to children participating in a clinical trial and to two school classes. Children were consulted for further development in surveys and interviews. Subsequently, the material was revised and re-evaluated in four school classes with children of varying ages and educational levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the first evaluation, children provided feedback on the storyline, wording and layout. Children thought the comic strip was 'fun' and 'informative'. Understanding of 8 basic research aspects was on average 83% and all above 65%, illustrating that children understood and remembered key messages.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A comic strip was developed to support the informed consent process. Children were consulted and provided feedback. The resulting material was well understood and accepted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Involving children in the development of information material can substantially contribute to the quality of the material. Children were excited to participate and to 'be a part of science'.
authors.affiliation: Department of Science Communication & Society, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands. Electronic address: p.grootens@umail.leidenuniv.nl.
authors.forename: Petronella
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Grootens-Wiegers
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Martine C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: de Vries
authors.affiliation: Department of Science Communication & Society, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Mara M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: van Beusekom
authors.affiliation: Department of Science Communication & Society, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: van Dijck
authors.affiliation: Department of Science Communication & Society, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jos M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: van den Broek
mesh_terms: D001296:Audiovisual Aids; D002359:Cartoons as Topic; D002648:Child; D032882:Comprehension; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D010372:Pediatrics
keywords: Adolescents; Children; Informed consent; Participation; Research information