Two new comic books have been launched to help children understand healthcare issues that affect adults they may know.
Medikidz uses the action adventure world of its superhero characters to explain illnesses and treatments to children. The company has more than 100 titles so far, dealing with conditions such as diabetes, HIV and malaria.
The first new book – Medikidz Explain the Intensive Care Unit – is based on the real life experiences, anxieties and questions of six-year-old Matteo Bignone, whose mother spent six weeks in critical care.
In the book, which was written with support from B Braun, Matteo meets the Medikidz superheroes, who take him on a unique journey through the ICU. The heroes teach Matteo about the equipment that can help his mother and reassuring him about each stage of her treatment.
The second new book – Medikidz Explain Stroke – follows 12 year-old Ethan after his grandfather suffers a stroke. The Medikidz help Ethan identify the signs of a stroke, explain treatment options and help him understand what has happened to his grandfather. The book was written with support from Boehringer Ingelheim.
The company plans to focus on addressing two main areas next, co-founder Dr Kate Hersov told PMLiVE.
“We are looking to increase the series to focus on addressing the issue of non-adherence in treatment, knowing that a key factor in poor compliance is low health literacy. Providing HCPs with patient-facing tools that meet health literacy principles is important, too,” she said.
“With the recognition that a medical condition certainly does not just affect the patient but impacts greatly on all those around them we are covering more topics for young people about diagnoses affecting family members. It is vital children can feel knowledgeable about those conditions too.”
The second area Medikidz is keen to expand into preventative health. Topics to be covered include oral health, eye health, obesity and sexual health.
Asked about her long-term plans for Medikidz, Hersov told PMLiVE: “To build Medikidz to be the global brand for children’s health. To be accessible through all forms of media – print, verbal, video or digital and to allow children to take autonomy over their condition.”
Medikidz also plans to develop digital apps for disease management and to provide practical support tools beyond medication, for instance self-care goal setting and monitoring, and a safe community where young people can share their experiences and find peer-to-peer support, Hersov said.