Tomografia computadorizada através dos quadrinhos

Abstract

Computed tomography has been a revolutionary instrumentation on medical imaging area. Through mathematical reconstruction, it produces sectional images that allow the visualization of less dense internal tissues. The number of CT examinations is currently increasing on the world. From 2009 to 2014, the number of CT devices increased 53.05% in Brazil, i.e., 19 CT procedures have been performed for each 1.000 inhabitants. On those procedures, most of the time the physical differences among the internal structures of the human body is enough to visualize completely the organs of interest. When the physical contrast is low, it requires the administration of a contrast agent. The mor frequently used contrast agent are iodine-based or barium-based. Despite being safe for most of the patients, contrast-enhanced procedures cause patient anxiety and stress. Thus, this work proposes the development of a graphic novel that could explain the usage and safety of the contrast agent during a CT scan. Comics are widely used for health propagation material due its versatility, allowing the author to adapt the content to the public reality. When compared to other medias, comics has better acceptance. For the comic development, we chose attractive colors and simplified language to facilitate the comprehension. A perception survey demonstrated that the material had high appreciation among the participants and 78% of the respondents felt less apprehensive about the CT procedure. On the other hand, 14% found the content about the contrast insufficient and only 43% could understand what a contrast agent is. Those results indicates that a script review may be necessary. Although a statistical test could not be applied, the material has been well-succeeded on public penetration. A new version of the script can also lead to better results.