How best to share research with study participants? A randomised crossover trial comparing a comic, lay summary, and scientific abstract.

Healthcare research is traditionally published in academic papers, coded in scientific language, and locked behind paywalls - an inaccessible form for many. Sharing research results with participants and the public in an appropriate, accessible manner, is an ethical practice directed in research guidance. Evidence-based recommendations for the medium used are scant, but science communication advice advocates principles which may be fulfilled well by the medium of comics. We report a randomised crossover study conducted online, comparing participant preferences for research results shared in the medium of a comic, a traditional lay text summary, and the control approach of a scientific abstract. 1236 respondents read all three summaries and ranked their most and least preferred formats. For the most preferred summary, the comic was chosen by 716 (57.9%), lay summary by 321 (26.0%), and scientific abstract by 199 (16.1%) respondents. For the least preferred summary the scientific abstract was chosen by 614 (49.7%), lay summary by 380 (30.7%) and comic by 242 (19.6%). Review of free-text responses identified key reasons for the majority preferring the comic over the others, which included finding this easier to read and understand, more enjoyable to consume, and more satisfactory as a medium of communication.

The changing landscape of professional development.

This learning activity looks at the changes that have taken place in professional development both in terms of the background of learners Generation Z, Generation Y, and the types of learning that are available as more and more professional learning opportunities are online. Online learning has become the new normal but how fast are we adopting and encouraging the mix of learners working in medical illustration and healthcare generally to access online professional development opportunities?

Mass population vaccination for COVID-19 in Malta.

INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 remains pandemic with countries scrambling to mass vaccinate populations, prioritising health-care workers, the elderly and the vulnerable. Malta is a small Mediterranean country with a population of circa half a million with free healthcare at point-of-care. This paper reviews the adaptations made to cope with mass vaccination. METHODS: Permission was obtained to tour hospital facilities. Photographs were taken with and edited on a mobile phone, a previously utilised methodology. RESULTS: Vaccination commenced on 27/12/20 with priorities as above. Malta Medical School lecture halls were initially used, followed by outpatients at the country's regional hospital, as well as other lecture halls, and National Health Service clinics. Virtually all medically vulnerable individuals have had their first doses as well as most individuals ≥60 years of age, with the 55-60 year age group currently targeted. Malta is well ahead of the European Union average. DISCUSSION: Exacting logistics and cooperation by all local authorities (such as the University of Malta) has resulted in a highly successful vaccine rollout. The eventual licencing of vaccination for children and the availability of booster dose/s will further facilitate the eventual attainment of herd immunity. This must be a global effort lest escape variants render these efforts futile.

After Effects compositing tools.

This paper provides information to enhance medical animations, by detailing the uses and techniques involved with layer modes, track mattes and layer masks in Adobe After Effects. Much like Photoshop and static two-dimensional images, layer modes in After Effects allow for the layer above to interact with the layer below in terms of light and colour balance. Track mattes can be rendered out in addition to your base image sequence and can remove the need for rotoscoping. In addition to rotoscoping more complicated areas of your footage, layer masks can also be used in conjunction with solids to add colour and gradients to your animations. The example file works with still rendered 3D images but the principles apply to image sequences as well. This article assumes a basic understanding of the After Effects user interface, creating compositions and importing files. Overall, the article will aid in the creation of more visually appealing medical animations.

Investigating the supply and use of medical photographs in medical education.

A survey-based exploration into the production and use of medical photographs in medical education. Qualitative data were collected on the use of medical photographs in medical education, ease of access to images and the qualities expected of a medical photograph used for teaching purposes. Our sample included participants from three stakeholder groups: medical students (n = 45), medical educators (n = 6) and medical photographers (n = 11). Our data demonstrate that while use of medical images in clinical education is highly valued, user awareness of the role and value of medical illustration departments (MIDs) remains a barrier to use. Seventy-one percent of students had little or no awareness of the role of MIDs. Ninety-three percent of students and 66% of medical educators had never used a MID, opting instead to use open-access search engines and online specialist archives. Thematic analysis of the data revealed that stakeholders' priorities with regard to medical images centre on image quality, clarity and contextual information. This presents a key opportunity for MIDs to realign their services to meet user needs in this area. Further investigation is required to determine how to raise awareness of MIDs amongst users to deliver on this opportunity.

Evaluating the readability levels of medical infographic materials for public consumption.

Readability is an important element of any published material. In recent years, various health organisations have utilised infographics to communicate important medical information. Established guidelines for readability suggest levels should be targeted between a 4th and 6th grade education level (United States) in order to avoid disadvantaging individuals with lower literacy skills. The purpose of this case study was to evaluate the readability levels of several published materials from the field of athletic training and demonstrate a model for evaluating readability levels in other medical and health professions.

Alienation and beauty in medical photography.

Though photography was initially touted to overtake medical illustration as a more objective medium, today photographs are underused in medical texts. The concern with aesthetics and the relationship between the body and the patient combined to shape the future of medical photography, and in some ways medicine itself. Closely examining two cases - Duchenne's 'Mécanisme de la Physionomie Humaine' (1856), and Grant's 'An Atlas of Anatomy' (1962) - I consider the role of alienation and beauty in medical photography and the evocative questions each raised in medical history. This is adapted from a talk given at RCPE.

Case study - human body relay race.

This case presentation introduces the work of Heather Lewis, Graphic Designer from Birmingham Community Healthcare Foundation Trust, Clinical Illustration department. The graphic design team offer professional design solutions in a variety of formats such as scientific posters, banners, patient information booklets and promotional items. This particular project was requested by the Combined Community Dental Service, a Specialist Division in Birmingham.

Histology in 3D: development of an online interactive student resource on epithelium.

Epithelium is an important and highly specialised tissue type that makes up the lining of inner and outer surfaces of the human body. It is proposed that a self-study tool adds to efficient learning and lecturing on this complicated topic in medical curricula. This paper describes the development and evaluation of an online interactive 3D resource on epithelium for undergraduate medical students. A first evaluation was carried out by means of an online survey (n = 37). The resource was evaluated positively on the website in general, its visual contents and its value and potential for the medical curriculum.

Can MOOCs meet your learning needs?

This paper looks at the role of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) in fulfilling your learning needs; from looking at what MOOCs are through to examples of courses from different Universities and advice for completing a course. The sequence of activities takes you from looking at your learning needs, to finding a course, thinking about how to plan and prepare for learning using a MOOC then writing a review or reflecting on the impact of your learning.

How to effectively design and create a concept mobile application to aid in the management of type 1 diabetes in adolescents.

Diabetes is one of the most prevalent chronic health conditions in the world; with a range of diabetes-related mobile applications available to the public to aid in glycaemic control and self-management. Statistically, adherence to medication is extremely low in adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM), therefore, this paper focuses on the research and design of an interactive and educational concept mobile application aimed at early to mid-adolescents to aid in their understanding of T1DM. As visual elements are an essential part of the design, this research outlines how visual components were designed specifically for adolescents with T1DM.

Journals and CPD.

One of the significant tools for supporting continuing professional development (CPD) is the Institute of Medical Illustrators (IMI) owned publication the Journal of Visual Communication in Medicine. Other journals, for example the Journal of Biological Photography, The British Journal of Photography, British Medical Journal and specialist journals associated with specific areas of medicine, education and illustration, are also helpful. The aim of this paper is to look at journals and CPD together with activities to help you engage with current literature, practice and research. If you look at the examples of CPD activities suggested by both IMI and the Health Professions Council (HPC) one of the recurring themes is the role of journals ( Table 1 ). Journals, alongside conferences, regional and national meetings, are key means of dissemination of research and support for professional development. [Table: see text].

Health and the body: The Ingram Collection at the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), London, UK. (3 March to 29 May 2016).

A new Ingram Collection exhibition, Health and the Body, opened for a period of two months at the Royal College of General Practitioners in London. The exhibition showcased paintings and sculptures by artists such as Eduardo Paolozzi, Barbara Hepworth, Geoffrey Clarke and Leon Underwood the artworks explored representations of the human body, and observed how these intersected with the history of general medical practice.

Imaging in glaucoma care pathways in the UK.

Glaucoma is an incurable disease of the eye that affects 2% of over 40s in the United Kingdom and 5% of those over 80. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) estimates that the disease affects around 480,000 people in the United Kingdom, with over a million glaucoma-related hospital outpatient appointments each year. This paper aims to establish the care pathways for glaucoma across the United Kingdom and the perceived value of imaging. A questionnaire was distributed to members of the Ophthalmic Imaging Association to identify imaging protocols with glaucoma; results indicated that there was variation between hospitals. The perceived clinical value of imaging from staff involved in the pathway was also explored.

An effective method for videorecording the nasal-dorsal part of a rhinoplasty - a multiple case study.

Rhinoplasty is a difficult procedure to record for several reasons which include the narrow, dark and deep surgical field cluttered with many instruments, and the heads and hands of the surgical team often blocking the view. This study discusses 13 rhinoplasty cases that were recorded using the authors' technique. A three-minute, unedited segment was extracted from the mid-portion of each surgical case, and that footage was evaluated by three specialist examiners. Results indicate that the authors' technique can offer a effective solution in the video recording of the nasal-dorsal part of a rhinoplasty.

3D printed facial laser scans for the production of localised radiotherapy treatment masks - A case study.

This study investigates the use of 3D printing for patients that require localised radiotherapy treatment to the face. The current process involves producing a lead mask in order to protect the healthy tissue from the effects of the radiotherapy. The mask is produced by applying a thermoplastic sheet to the patient's face and allowing to set hard. This can then be used as a mould to create a plaster impression of the patient's face. A sheet of lead is then hammered on to the plaster to create a bespoke fitted face mask. This process can be distressing for patients and can be problematic when the patient is required to remain motionless for a prolonged time while the thermoplastic sets. In this study, a 1:1 scale 3D print of a patient's face was generated using a laser scanner. The lead was hammered directly on to the surface of the 3D print in order to create a bespoke fitted treatment mask. This eliminated the thermoplastic moulding stage and significantly reduced the time needed for the patient to be in clinic. The higher definition impression of the the face resulted in a more accurate, better fitting treatment mask.

Some sound advice (recording better sound for video).

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the importance of good quality audio for video production. Well-recorded audio is an essential component of any video project and this paper will explain and demystify the recording process. The equipment used to capture audio will be described and best practices will be outlined. Following the advice in this paper will help videographers to achieve the highest quality crystal clear recordings.

Creating a digital medical illustration.

This paper covers the steps required to complete a medical illustration in a digital format using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. The project example is the surgical procedure for the release of the glenohumeral joint for the condition known as 'frozen shoulder'. The purpose is to demonstrate one method which an artist can use within digital media to create a colour illustration such as the release of the glenohumeral joint. Included is a general overview as how to deal with the administration of a medical illustration commission through the experience of a professional freelance artist.

Creating an animation-enhanced video library of hepato-pancreato-biliary and transplantation surgical procedures.

The potential for integrating real-time surgical video and state-of-the art animation techniques has not been widely applied to surgical education. This paper describes the use of new technology for creating videos of liver, pancreas and transplant surgery, annotating them with 3D animations, resulting in a freely-accessible online resource: The Toronto Video Atlas of Liver, Pancreas and Transplant Surgery ( http://tvasurg.ca ). The atlas complements the teaching provided to trainees in the operating room, and the techniques described in this study can be readily adapted by other surgical training programmes.

A reusable anatomically segmented digital mannequin for public health communication.

The ongoing development of world wide web technologies has facilitated a change in health communication, which has now become bi-directional and encompasses people with diverse backgrounds. To enable an even greater role for medical illustrations, a data set, BodyParts3D, has been generated and its data set can be used by anyone to create and exchange customised three-dimensional (3D) anatomical images. BP3D comprises more than 3000 3D object files created by segmenting a digital mannequin in accordance with anatomical naming conventions. This paper describes the methodologies and features used to generate an anatomically correct male mannequin.