Influence of static cartoons combined with dynamic virtual environments on preoperative anxiety of preschool-aged children undergoing surgery.

BACKGROUND: Preschoolers become anxious when they are about to undergo anesthesia and surgery, warranting the development of more appropriate and effective interventions. AIM: To explore the effect of static cartoons combined with dynamic virtual environments on preoperative anxiety and anesthesia induction compliance in preschool-aged children undergoing surgery. METHODS: One hundred and sixteen preschool-aged children were selected and assigned to the drug (n = 37), intervention (n = 40), and control (n = 39) groups. All the children received routine preoperative checkups and nursing before being transferred to the preoperative preparation room on the day of the operation. The drug group received 0.5 mg/kg midazolam and the intervention group treatment consisting of static cartoons combined with dynamic virtual environments. The control group received no intervention. The modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale was used to evaluate the children's anxiety level on the day before surgery (T0), before leaving the preoperative preparation room (T1), when entering the operating room (T2), and at anesthesia induction (T3). Compliance during anesthesia induction (T3) was evaluated using the Induction Compliance Checklist (ICC). Changes in mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and respiratory rate (RR) were also recorded at each time point. RESULTS: The anxiety scores of the three groups increased variously at T1 and T2. At T3, both the drug and intervention groups had similar anxiety scores, both of which were lower than those in the control group. At T1 and T2, MAP, HR, and RR of the three groups increased. The drug and control groups had significantly higher MAP and RR than the intervention group at T2. At T3, the MAP, HR, and RR of the drug group decreased and were significantly lower than those in the control group but were comparable to those in the intervention group. Both the drug and intervention groups had similar ICC scores and duration of anesthesia induction (T3), both of which were higher than those of the control group. CONCLUSION: Combining static cartoons with dynamic virtual environments as effective as medication, specifically midazolam, in reducing preoperative anxiety and fear in preschool-aged children. This approach also improve their compliance during anesthesia induction and helped maintain their stable vital signs.

Examining the Effectiveness of Interactive Webtoons for Premature Birth Prevention: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Premature birth poses significant health challenges globally, impacting infants, families, and society. Despite recognition of its contributing factors, efforts to reduce its incidence have seen limited success. A notable gap exists in the awareness among women of childbearing age (WCA) regarding both the risks of premature birth and the preventative measures they can take. Research suggests that enhancing health beliefs and self-management efficacy in WCA could foster preventive health behaviors. Interactive webtoons offer an innovative, cost-effective avenue for delivering engaging, accessible health education aimed at preventing premature birth. OBJECTIVE: This protocol describes a randomized controlled trial to assess the effectiveness and feasibility of a novel, self-guided, web-based intervention-Pregnancy Story I Didn't Know in Interactive Webtoon Series (PSIDK-iWebtoons)-designed to enhance self-management efficacy and promote behaviors preventing premature birth in WCA. METHODS: Using an explanatory sequential mixed methods design, this study first conducts a quantitative analysis followed by a qualitative inquiry to evaluate outcomes and feasibility. Participants are randomly assigned to 2 groups: one accessing the PSIDK-iWebtoons and the other receiving Pregnancy Story I Didn't Know in Text-Based Information (PSIDK-Texts) over 3 weeks. We measure primary efficacy through the self-management self-efficacy scale for premature birth prevention (PBP), alongside secondary outcomes including perceptions of susceptibility, severity, benefits, and barriers based on the health belief model for PBP and PBP intention. Additional participant-reported outcomes are assessed at baseline, the postintervention time point, and the 4-week follow-up. The feasibility of the intervention is assessed after the end of the 3-week intervention period. Outcome analysis uses repeated measures ANOVA for quantitative data, while qualitative data are explored through content analysis of interviews with 30 participants. RESULTS: The study received funding in June 2021 and institutional review board approval in October 2023. Both the PSIDK-iWebtoons and PSIDK-Texts interventions have been developed and pilot-tested from July to November 2023, with the main phase of quantitative data collection running from November 2023 to March 2024. Qualitative data collection commenced in February 2024 and will conclude in May 2024. Ongoing analyses include process evaluation and data interpretation. CONCLUSIONS: This trial will lay foundational insights into the nexus of interactive web-based interventions and the improvement of knowledge and practices related to PBP among WCA. By demonstrating the efficacy and feasibility of a web-based, interactive educational tool, this study will contribute essential evidence to the discourse on accessible and scientifically robust digital platforms. Positive findings will underscore the importance of such interventions in fostering preventive health behaviors, thereby supporting community-wide efforts to mitigate the risk of premature births through informed self-management practices. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) KCT0008931; https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/search/detailSearch.do?seq=25857. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/58326.

Effects of a Free Electronic Book on Systemic Anatomy with Schematics on Student Learning / Efectos de un Libro Electrónico Gratuito sobre Anatomía Sistémica con Esquemas sobre el Aprendizaje de los Estudiantes

SUMMARY: For students in schools of nursing, health sciences, and premed, a systemic anatomy textbook with minimized contents, schematics, and mnemonics may be helpful for learning an otherwise often unappealing subject. In this study, we assess the educational effect of such a textbook. Schematic drawings, anatomy comics, and easily readable text were generated for the chapters of the book (e.g., skeletal system, articular system). The book was presented without charge via a webpage (anatomy.co.kr). Nursing students who were exposed to the book and those who were not exposed were compared; a survey was administered to those who were exposed. The students who read the presented textbook were more knowledgeable than those who used other textbooks. Hours spent reading the presented textbook and scores of fill-in-the-blank questions were positively correlated. In general, the students replied that the presented textbook was helpful for learning systemic anatomy. The systemic anatomy textbook accompanies preexisting textbooks in regional anatomy, neuroanatomy, and the histology, all of which are written by the same authors. We suggest anatomy instructors generate their own books with unique style to enrich the student learning process.

Para los estudiantes de las escuelas de enfermería, ciencias de la salud y premedicina, un libro de texto de anatomía sistémica con contenidos, esquemas y mnemónicos minimizados puede ser útil para aprender un tema que de otro modo sería poco atractivo. En este estudio, evaluamos el efecto educativo de dicho libro de texto. Se generaron dibujos esquemáticos, cómics de anatomía y texto de fácil lectura para los capítulos del libro (por ejemplo, sistema esquelético, sistema articular). El libro se presentó sin costo a través de una página web (anatomy.co.kr). Se compararon los estudiantes de enfermería que estuvieron expuestos al libro y los que no estuvieron expuestos. Se administró una encuesta a quienes estuvieron expuestos. Los estudiantes que leyeron el libro de texto presentado tenían más conocimientos que aquellos que usaron otros libros de texto. Las horas dedicadas a leer el libro de texto presentado y las decenas de preguntas para completar espacios en blanco se correlacionaron positivamente. En general, los estudiantes respondieron que el libro de texto presentado fue útil para aprender anatomía sistémica. El libro de texto de anatomía sistémica acompaña a los libros de texto preexistentes de anatomía regional, neuroanatomía e histología, todos escritos por los mismos autores. Sugerimos que los instructores de anatomía generen sus propios libros con un estilo único para enriquecer el proceso de aprendizaje de los estudiantes.

Closing the miscommunication gap: A user guide to developing picture-based communication tools for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in emergency departments.

OBJECTIVE: To document an illustration-based methodology for culturally safe communication between Indigenous patients and clinicians in an urban ED. METHODS: We co-designed a pre-ED visual tool to minimise miscommunication when triaging First Nations patients. Our steps included establishing project governance, conducting a literature review, obtaining ethics approval and designing illustrations. We then consulted relevant stakeholders, finalised the resource and contributed to the evidence base and to knowledge exchange. RESULTS: Co-design is an important principle in reducing miscommunication and ensuring cultural safety in EDs. CONCLUSIONS: Co-design methodologies can guide improvements in culturally safe clinical communication with First Nations patients in EDs.

From high hopes to disenchantment: A qualitative analysis of editorial cartoons on COVID-19 vaccines in Canadian newspapers.

In Canada, the first COVID-19 vaccine was approved for use in December 2020, marking the beginning of a large vaccination campaign. The campaign was not only unprecedented in terms of reach, but also with regards to the amount of information about vaccines that circulated in traditional and social media. This study's aim was to describe COVID-19 vaccine related discourses in Canada through an analysis of editorial cartoons. We collected 2172 cartoons about COVID-19 published between January 2020 and August 2022 in Canadian newspapers. These cartoons were downloaded and a first thematic analysis was conducted using the WHO-EPIWIN taxonomy (cause, illness, treatment, interventions, and information). From this, 389 cartoons related to COVID-19 vaccines were identified under the treatment category. These were subjected to a second thematic analysis to assess main themes (e.g., vaccine development, campaign progress, etc.), characters featured (e.g., politicians, public figures, public) and position with respect to vaccine (favorable, unfavorable, neutral). Six main themes emerged: Research and development of vaccines; Management of the vaccination campaign; Perceptions of and experiences with vaccination services; Measures and incentives to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake; Criticism of the unvaccinated; and Effectiveness of vaccination. Our analysis revealed a shift in attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination from high hopes to disenchantment, which may reflect some vaccine fatigue. In the future, public health authorities could face some challenges in maintaining confidence and high COVID-19 vaccine uptake.

Enhancing children's awareness of sexual abuse in Pakistan with video literacy interventional cartoons.

In presence of violent extremism, children in Pakistan are at high risk for child sexual abuse (CSA), especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Effective approaches for preventing CSA include enhancing resilience resources in violence-affected societies. Previous research suggests that video-based curricula effectively enhances learning in primary schoolchildren. We pilot tested a video literacy program to build awareness in children, creating a 'personal safety and space bubble' as an educational approach for prevention of sexual abuse with an experimental 6 weeks long pre- and post-test design. We conducted qualitative interviews with students, teachers, and parents and identified themes using frequency analyses. Results showed a 96.7% increase in awareness about 'personal safety and space bubble'. The pilot study is valuable for public health researchers and policy makers seeking to curtail sexual abuse in extreme violence affected Pakistan. Primary schools can use such interventional cartoons to enhance awareness about child sexual abuse.

A Complexity Science Account of Humor.

A common assumption of psychological theories of humor is that experienced funniness results from an incongruity between stimuli provided by a verbal joke or visual pun, followed by a sudden, surprising resolution of incongruity. In the perspective of complexity science, this characteristic incongruity-resolution sequence is modeled by a phase transition, where an initial attractor-like script, suggested by the initial joke information, is suddenly destructed, and in the course of resolution replaced by a less probable novel script. The transition from the initial to the enforced final script was modeled as a succession of two attractors with different minimum potentials, during which free energy becomes available to the joke recipient. Hypotheses derived from the model were tested in an empirical study where participants rated the funniness of visual puns. It was found, consistent with the model, that the extent of incongruity and the abruptness of resolution were associated with reported funniness, and with social factors, such as disparagement (Schadenfreude) added to humor responses. The model suggests explanations as to why bistable puns and phase transitions in conventional problem solving, albeit also based on phase transitions, are generally less funny. We proposed that findings from the model can be transferred to decision processes and mental change dynamics in psychotherapy.

"Nursing students' experiences with concept cartoons as an active learning strategy for developing conceptual understanding in anatomy and physiology: A mixed-method study".

AIM: The aim of this study was to explore bachelor-level nursing students' experiences with concept cartoons as an active learning strategy and formative assessment to develop conceptual understanding in anatomy and physiology (A&P). BACKGROUND: Many first-year nursing students struggle to understand central concepts in A&P. Concept cartoons-cartoon characters proposing scientifically acceptable statements and misconceptions combined with an illustration-might facilitate active learning in lectures, overcome misconceptions and promote deep learning. Voting on the most precise statement using a student response system gives formative information about the students' conceptual understanding. DESIGN: Parallel mixed methods design with an emphasis on a qualitative approach. METHODS: Nine concept cartoons were developed based on former students' written answers to exam items and applied in lectures at three universities/university colleges. Qualitative data of students' experiences were collected in three focus group interviews during November 2019, one focus group at each of the three universities/university colleges (n = 5, 8 and 8). A short questionnaire was also applied (n = 343) to all students at the three universities/university colleges. Qualitative data were analysed using qualitative content analyses, whereas frequency analysis and Chi-square statistics were applied for the quantitative data. The study was approved by the Norwegian Centre for Research Data, ref. 779586. RESULTS: Qualitative data analysis indicated that the use of concept cartoons addresses different learning styles and could promote deep learning and enhance the environment for learning. The concept cartoons were also seen as valuable for examination preparation. Regarding potential improvements, more information about concept cartoons, how they were developed and how they were supposed to be used would be beneficial, and the cartoons could be used in a more time-efficient manner during lectures. Quantitative data indicated that most of the students thought that concept cartoons were useful and inspiring in learning A&P, and they would recommend further use to increase their understanding of central concepts. There were no significant differences across sex, age, or entrance qualifications when it comes to the benefits of using concept cartoons in learning A&P. Compared to students born in Scandinavia, a larger proportion of students born outside Scandinavia found the use of concept cartoons inspiring for their learning in A&P. CONCLUSIONS: The use of concept cartoons was appreciated by the students to develop a conceptual understanding in A&P. Most students recommended future use. REGISTRATION NUMBER: At point of submission put this on title page Tweetable abstract: Concept cartoons are appreciated as an active learning strategy and formative assessment in developing nursing students' conceptual understanding of anatomy and physiology.

Development and effects of a webtoon education program on preventive self-management related to premature labor for women of childbearing age: a randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop a webtoon education program on preventive self-management related to premature labor (PSM-PL) for women of childbearing age, to evaluate its effects, and to assess the usability of webtoon education for women of childbearing age. METHODS: The study design was a stratified randomized trial with repeated measures. The participants were Korean women of childbearing age (between the ages of 19 and 49 years), with 49 participants each. The preventive health management self-efficacy related to premature labor (PHMSE-PL) scale, the preventive self-management knowledge related to premature labor (PSMK-PL) scale, and usability of webtoon education were assessed. The intervention group read six episodes of the PSM-PL webtoon within 2 days after clicking an online link. The control group did not receive anything but was given the webtoon after the last measurement. To test the effect of the repeatedly measured variables, a generalized estimating equation model was used. RESULTS: The experimental group had statistically significantly greater increases in PHMSE-PL and PSMK-PL scores from baseline to immediately after and 2 weeks later than the control group. The average score for usability of webtoon education was high (4.52; standard deviation, 0.62) on a scale of 1-5. CONCLUSION: This webtoon education program on PSM-PL was a feasible and acceptable program that increased self-efficacy and knowledge of preventive health management of premature labor in women of childbearing age. Future studies that adopt a webtoon format can be beneficial for childbearing women with other risk factors.

Recognition of cartoon-based e-cigarette-related marketing is associated with e-cigarette use among adolescents.

INTRODUCTION: Recent research has shown that e-cigarette companies use cartoon-based marketing. Recognition of this cartoon-based marketing has been associated with increased risk for e-cigarette use in young adults, however it is unclear if this generalizes to adolescents. This study examined the associations between recognition of e-liquid packaging with cartoons and e-cigarette use, susceptibility to use, and expectations of benefits and risks of use in adolescents. METHODS: A cross-sectional sample of adolescents drawn from three Southern California high schools (n = 1,734; 55% female; Mean [SD] age = 15.2[0.9]) completed online surveys assessing e-cigarette use, susceptibility to use, expectations about benefits and risks of use, and tobacco marketing exposure. To assess recognition of cartoon images, participants were presented with 40 images of e-liquid packages (20 with and 20 without cartoons) and asked to endorse whether they recognized the products. The primary predictor was relative cartoon recognition (i.e., percentage of cartoons recognized out of the total images recognized). RESULTS: Relative recognition of cartoon images was positively associated with e-cigarette use, susceptibility to use, and a perceived social benefit of use. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents recognize e-cigarette-related cartoon marketing, and these adolescents are using e-cigarettes. The restriction of cartoon-based marketing of e-cigarettes may affect e-cigarette uptake among adolescents.

Stigma and blame related to COVID-19 pandemic: A case-study of editorial cartoons in Canada.

The COVID-19 pandemic represents not only the spread of a highly contagious and potentially fatal virus, but also an outbreak of theories, rumors, discourses and representations trying to make sense of a crisis. In this article, we explore the issue of blame and stigma in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada. We do so by studying editorial cartoons published about COVID-19 in ten mainstream Canadian newspapers between January 2020 and March 2021. We identified 203 editorial cartoons that highlight common discourses which blame or stigmatize specific groups of people for the origin or transmission of COVID-19, or for their behavior during the pandemic. The cartoons focused on four groups: 1) people of Chinese origin or descent and of other national/geographic provenance (Americans, Canadians from specific provinces, urban residents); 2) international travelers; 3) people who do not respect the preventive measures to contain the pandemic; and 4) people who question or criticize the scientific discourses about COVID-19. Our analysis revealed an "othering process" common in times of pandemic. Our analysis of editorial cartoons in Canada also uncovered a moralization around the respect of the counter measures against COVID-19. These editorial cartoons largely divide the population into two groups: 1) "virtuous" people who are "selfless" and "smart" and who respect the public health preventive measures; 2) those who are "immoral", "self-centered", "silly" and even "stupid", who do not respect the recommended measures to prevent the transmission of COVID-19. While negatively portraying these individuals may help promote adherence to the recommended measures, it also can exacerbate polarization. Analyzing editorial cartoons can be a useful approach to rapidly gather information on attitudes and feelings in the public at a specific time and place.

Critic or cheerleader? Editorial cartoons during the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic.

An examination of editorial cartoons about the Coronavirus pandemic during the first 6 months finds that subjects and topics followed developments in the spread of the pandemic and public health and safety responses and mirrored those found in news coverage. More, messages generally reflected largely consensual establishment views of the crisis and official health and safety responses. Cartoonists seemed to adopt the role of cheerleader for government policy and efforts to grapple with the pandemic.

The Effects of Prosocial Cartoon Examples on Children's Donating Behavior.

PURPOSE: In this study, we examined whether prosocial cartoons could inspire children to donate toys to others immediately upon exposure. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: Cartoons were rated as prosocial or control via 80 adults. One hundred and fifty-six children participated in the study (M age = 5.29, SD = 0.79). Children in the experimental group were exposed to cartoons in which the main character had a large number of donating behaviors, while children in the control group watched cartoons without donating behaviors (randomized controlled study). They watched these cartoons for 4 consecutive days. Afterwards, children's donating behaviors toward their peers were assessed in the Toy Donation Task (TDT). An analytic method of 2 (cartoon: prosocial vs control) × 2 (gender: male vs female) × 3 (age: 4 vs 5 vs 6) analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to make result analyses. RESULTS: The empirical results indicated that watching cartoons specifically depicting charitable donations (and not cartoons with other prosocial content) increased donations for charitable causes, whilst watching the control cartoons (cartoons without prosocial content) which did not depict characters acting in an antisocial way did not increase donating behavior. Specifically, 5-year-old female children reported more donating behavior than 6-year-old female children and 4-year-old female children, whilst no significant age effects were found among male children. Here, 4-6-year-old female children and 4-5-year-old male children in the prosocial cartoon condition reported more donating behavior than those in the control cartoon condition. CONCLUSION: These findings indicated an accumulating positive effect of watching cartoons with donating content on children's donating behavior, especially for 4-6-year-old female children and 4-5-year-old male children.

Impulsivity and self-control in elementary school children and adult females: Using identical task and procedural parameters.

Results of studies examining the relationship between impulsivity and age are limited because different tasks, procedural parameters, and different reinforcers have been used with different aged participants. Thus, the current study sought to rectify these differences in two experiments with children (42, ages 5-12) and adults (69 college-aged females) using the same task with identical procedural parameters. In the Self-Control Video Software Task (SCVST; Forzano and Schunk, 2008; Forzano et al., 2014) participants repeatedly choose between larger, more delayed and smaller, less delayed access to viewing video cartoons. No differences in impulsivity were found between adults and children. No age or gender differences were found among children. Differences in task and procedural parameters are identified as important in their implications for research on impulsivity.

The moderating role of colour in modelling the effectiveness of COVID-19 YouTube animated cartoons on the health behaviour of social media users in Nigeria.

Previous studies on the effect of cartoon hardly consider the moderating role of colour. Additionally, studies on the use of social media for health promotion pay less attention to sustainability of health behaviour. In this study, we examined the moderating role of colour on the effectiveness of COVID-19 YouTube animated cartoons on health behaviour of social media users in Nigeria. We survey a total of 470 social media users in Nigeria who reported exposure to YouTube COVID-19 animated cartoons. It was found that colour significantly predict recall of YouTube animated cartoons on COVID-19. In addition, the result of the study revealed that colour significantly moderate impact ofCOVID-19 YouTube animated cartoons on health behaviour of social media users. The result further showed that exposure to COVID-19 YouTube animated cartoons will significantly predict knowledge of the virus. The result also showed that recall of messages theme in COVID-19 YouTube animated cartoons significantly predicts health behaviour of social media users. Finally, the result of the study showed that self-efficacy, task self-efficacy, coping self-efficacy, and outcome expectancy significantly predict health behaviour sustainability among social media users who are exposed to COVID-19 YouTube animated cartoon. We highlighted the implications of these results on health promotions.

Worlds apart, drawn together: Bears, penguins and biodiversity in climate change cartoons.

This study shows how cartoonists use iconic and stereotypical animals in their works to reflect society's knowledge about the effects of climate change. Studying 1022 climate change cartoons including depictions of animals, we noticed that there is very little biodiversity depicted in cartoons. Cartoonists generally avoid using animals indigenous to their own countries; this point is especially true regarding the low presence of insects and other invertebrates. This text also encourages cartoonists to adhere to some recommendations to improve climate change communication. These guidelines are (1) using indigenous wildlife, (2) depicting invertebrate wildlife, (3) improving their knowledge about the biogeographical distribution of each species to avoid spreading misconceptions and (4) developing climate change communication from a positive point of view, appealing to potential improvements against the climate crisis, both for humans and for the rest of the species.

Food to politics: Representations of genetically modified organisms in cartoons on the Internet in China.

Controversies around genetically modified (GM) food have become particularly prevalent in China. To understand the situation, 257 GM cartoons were collected from various Chinese online sources. We found that China's GM cartoons peaked during controversial social events from the end of 2012 to 2016, which is consistent with the Baidu Media Index on GM headline news. About 85% of the cartoons involve GM food and more than half of cartoons share scary information. The mainstream media is more neutral and not only presents the dilemma in choice but also promotes genetically modified organisms (GMOs). However, social media inclines toward a more pessimistic view, providing scary information and focusing on health risks and conspiracy theories. Controversial topics have fueled the spread of political conspiracy theories. Generally, scientists supporting GMOs have been criticized under suspicion of betraying their country, and the issue of GM food in China reflects strong political views.

Nutrition Profile of Products with Cartoon Animations on the Packaging: A UK Cross-Sectional Survey of Foods and Drinks.

BACKGROUND: Marketing, including the use of cartoon animations on packaging, has been shown to influence the food children choose to eat. This paper aims to determine the nutritional quality of UK food and drink products featuring child-friendly characters on pack. METHODS: A comprehensive cross-sectional survey of food and drink with packaging appealing to children available in the UK. Products were classified high in fat, salt and/or sugar (HFSS) according to the UK nutrient profiling model and guidance for front of pack nutrition labelling. Logistic regression was used to determine whether there was a significant relationship between nutritional quality of products, and animation type. RESULTS: Over half (51%) of 532 products with animations on packaging were classified as HFSS. Food products featuring unlicensed characters were significantly more likely to be deemed HFSS than those with licensed characters, according to both the nutrient profiling model (odds ratio (OR) 2.1, 95% CI: 1.3 to 3.4) and front of pack nutrition labelling system (OR 2.3, 95% confidence interval CI: 1.4 to 3.7). CONCLUSIONS: The use of cartoon characters on HFSS products is widespread. Policies to restrict the use of such marketing tactics should be considered to prevent children being targeted with unhealthy foods and drinks.

Humor comprehension and creative cognition: Shared and distinct neurocognitive mechanisms as indicated by EEG alpha activity.

Humor comprehension is increasingly recognized as showing parallels to more conventional creative cognition; yet our understanding of brain mechanisms underlying creative cognition in a humorous context is still limited. The present study addressed this issue by investigating functional patterns of EEG alpha activity while 93 participants viewed nonverbal humorous cartoons until they indicated having recognized the punch line, and subsequently vocalized their idea as to what constituted it. In a similar fashion, EEG was also assessed during performance of the Alternate Uses Task (AUT), in order to identify similarities and differences in EEG alpha activity implicated in conventional creative cognition vs. humor comprehension. Analyses revealed a pattern of robust task-related alpha power increases in both tasks, which were markedly more right-lateralized at ventral fronto-temporal sites in the humor task as compared to the AUT. Findings are interpreted in line with recent literature on the functional role of alpha activity in the creativity domain. Altogether, this study adds further evidence to the particular role of EEG alpha oscillations in creative cognition and supports the idea that conventional creative ideation and the comprehension of humor share neural mechanisms affiliated to creative cognition.

The Effects of Cartoon Assisted Endoscopy Preparation Package on Children's Fear and Anxiety Levels and Parental Satisfaction in Turkey.

PURPOSE: The study was conducted to determine the effect of the cartoon-assisted preparation package, developed for children undergoing an endoscopy procedure, on children's fear and anxiety levels and parental satisfaction. DESIGN AND METHODS: The study was conducted in a randomized controlled experimental design between April 2018-July 2019. The study sample consisted of a total of 65 children and their parents (33 in the intervention group and 32 in the control group) who met the research inclusion criteria in this study population. The intervention group was prepared for an endoscopy procedure with the cartoon-assisted preparation package for endoscopy. RESULTS: The mean fear scores of the children in the intervention group were 3.39 ±â€¯0.56 before endoscopy, 1.67 ±â€¯0.54 during endoscopy, and 0.52 ±â€¯0.67 after endoscopy, with statistically significant difference between the mean fear scores. The mean fear scores in the control group were 3.00 ±â€¯0.80 before endoscopy, 3.13 ±â€¯0.79 during endoscopy, and 2.25 ±â€¯1.16 after endoscopy, with statistically significant difference between the mean fear scores. The anxiety scores of the children were 33.79 ±â€¯4.00 in the intervention group and 36.56 ±â€¯3.52 in the control group before endoscopy, and the difference between anxiety scores was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The mean satisfaction scores of the parents in the experimental group after endoscopy (78.44 ±â€¯10.01) was higher than that of the control group (73.52 ±â€¯12.92), but the difference between the groups was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The cartoon-assisted preparation package for endoscopy was found to be effective in reducing fear and anxiety that may occur in children undergoing endoscopy, in the 7-12 age group.