Mendelson A, et al. – The authors intended to figure out whether comic book Neta and the Medikidz Explain JIA would improve disease–related knowledge and treatment adherence among patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Findings approved that the comic booklet Neta and the Medikidz Explain JIA was a good educational tool for increasing disease–related knowledge in children with JIA.

Methods

• In this study, JIA patients answered 20 multiple–choice knowledge questions about their disease, before and after reading the comic book. 
• Demographic, clinical, health–related quality of life and adherence data were recorded and correlated to the responses.

Results

• 61 patients with a mean age of 14 ± 3.3 (range 8–18) years, 67% female, 83% Jewish and 17% non–Jewish were reviewed.
• 39% had oligoarthritis, 13% systemic, 32% polyarthritis 11% psoriatic and 5% enthesitis–related type JIA.
•  The disease was active in 46%, 40% were treated with biologics/disease modifying anti–rheumatic drugs, and 34% were in remission on medication. 
•  Among the 53 patients who completed before and after quizzes, average score increased from 63 to 80% (P < 0.001).
• Non–Jewish patients initially scored lower than Jewish patients (48%), but their score increased to 79% after reading the comic book. 
• 27 patients who also completed the quiz 1 year after the first reading retained their knowledge (79%).
• A statistically significant correlation between knowledge and age, sex, disease subtype, or Child Health Questionnaire quality of life scores was not reported.
• However, adherence to medication use, physical therapy and rheumatology clinic visits were high at baseline; thus, these did not change after reading the comic.