Skip to main content

Empirical Evaluation of Arts-Based Informational Aids for ELSI Issues in the Clinic and Beyond

Publication Date:
Updated:

Collection Editor(s):

Collection Editor(s)
Name & Degree
Gretchen A. Case, PhD, MA
Work Title/Institution
Associate Professor & Chief, Program in Medical Ethics and Humanities, Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine
Name & Degree
Darian Mikelle Hackney
Work Title/Institution
J.D. Candidate, Program in Medical Ethics and Humanities Fellow, University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law
  • Introduction

    The rapidly changing science of clinical genetics and the complexity of its associated ethical, legal, and social (ELSI) issues call for novel approaches to information delivery and education of healthcare professionals and the public. Compared to traditional communication methodologies, arts-based methods offer a way to reach a wider variety of audiences and engage them in multi-sensory, experiential learning. Among the arts, theatre and the visual arts, including video, photography, and graphic medicine (comic books and graphic novels on medical topics), have thus far been the most carefully studied to evaluate their utility as communication tools for clinical genetics and science topics more generally. Although this literature collection explores a variety of media, we focus substantially here on studies of graphic medicine and theatre. Graphic medicine has particular promise as a communication tool for ELSI issues because its combination of written language and images can be more appealing and easier to understand than written explanations alone. Theatre can include both observing and participating in scenarios depicting the practice of clinical genetics, which is important…

    The rapidly changing science of clinical genetics and the complexity of its associated ethical, legal, and social (ELSI) issues call for novel approaches to information delivery and education of healthcare professionals and the public. Compared to traditional communication methodologies, arts-based methods offer a way to reach a wider variety of audiences and engage them in multi-sensory, experiential learning. Among the arts, theatre and the visual arts, including video, photography, and graphic medicine (comic books and graphic novels on medical topics), have thus far been the most carefully studied to evaluate their utility as communication tools for clinical genetics and science topics more generally. Although this literature collection explores a variety of media, we focus substantially here on studies of graphic medicine and theatre. Graphic medicine has particular promise as a communication tool for ELSI issues because its combination of written language and images can be more appealing and easier to understand than written explanations alone. Theatre can include both observing and participating in scenarios depicting the practice of clinical genetics, which is important in emphasizing that each person in a clinical scenario has an active role in any decision-making. This collection examines the potential of arts-based learning aids to convey scientific and medical information and explore attitudes about ELSI issues in clinical genetics, such as informed consent and research participation.

Collection Header
Empirical evaluation of arts-based informational aids for ELSI issues in the clinic and beyond
Body
Tags
Genetics education
popular culture
science education
Arts
Informational aids
graphic medicine
comics
arts-based methods
decision-making
Communication Tools

Share

About ELSIhub Collections

  • ELSIhub Collections are essential reading lists on fundamental or emerging topics in ELSI, curated and explained by expert Collection Editors, often paired with ELSI trainees. This series assembles materials from cross-disciplinary literatures to enable quick access to key information.

ELSIhub Collections