Comic strips as a qualitative research method

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Dr Muna Al Jawad, Consultant in Elderly Medicine, Brighton & Sussex University Hospital

Abstract

Losing Patience: A geriatrician's attempt at ethnographic research through comics

Geriatric medicine is a relatively young medical specialty, born after most of its current patients. It is well-established in the UK, but there is still debate about its continued existence (Flicker, 2008). In the USA geriatric medicine is the remit of family doctors and academics, a low status specialty with small financial rewards (Hazzard, 2004).

Specialty training in geriatric medicine in the UK takes five years and follows a 119-page curriculum (Joint Royal Colleges of Physicians Training Board, 2010). Despite its breadth and detail this curriculum, in my opinion, does not explain what a geriatrician is. It feels like there's something missing.

As part of a masters in medical education I attempted to understand the specialty more deeply. I aimed to illuminate the hidden areas of practice, not normally discussed or explicitly taught. I used ethnography as my research methodology, this deals with the meaning and process of actions within the social context of the everyday world (Atkinson and Pugsley, 2005). I used direct observation of life on the geriatrics ward to enable reflection on aspects of practice currently taken-for-granted.

While writing up and reflecting on my field notes, I often felt angry and frustrated at the reality of life on the wards. I find such emotions difficult to put into words and so created visual narrative versions of my experiences- I drew comics. An example is shown below.

The special qualities of images are that they can be immediately accessible; incorporate multiple layers at once; and evoke strong emotions and empathy. Sequential images amplify these merits by adding a narrative element. In the context of this ethnographic project, comics have been a valuable aid to reflection, expression and communication. This suggests possible wider uses for comics in qualitative research into medical practice.

ATKINSON, P. & PUGSLEY, L. 2005. Making sense of ethnography and medical education. Medical Education, 39, 228-234.

FLICKER, L. 2008. Should geriatric medicine remain a specialty? Yes. British Medical Journal, 337, 78.

HAZZARD, W. 2004. I am a geriatrician. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 52, 161.

JOINT ROYAL COLLEGES OF PHYSICIANS TRAINING BOARD. 2010. Specialty Training Curriculum for Geriatric Medicine Curriculum. Available: http://www.gmc-uk.org/geriatric_curriculum_2010.pdf_32486221.pdf