The direct answer
A child and parent record what happened that day. Comic Journal maps selected details into a hero story, then gives the family something engaging to read and discuss together.
How Comic Journal works
From an asthma check-in to a story a child can recognise.
Comic Journal is an early-stage concept that turns short, shared asthma check-ins into personalised visual stories. The aim is to make daily routines easier to discuss, remember, and practise.
Current status
The concept is evidence-informed and ready for workshop refinement, clinical review, beta testing, and pilot evaluation. It is not yet clinically proven.
1. Record a short daily asthma check-in
The proposed app uses quick evening check-ins rather than a long medical diary. A family can record medication use, symptoms, daily barriers, and the reason a routine was missed.
What families may record
- Preventer inhaler use
- Symptoms and possible triggers
- School or social barriers
- Worries about treatment
2. Turn real experiences into a hero narrative
Selected data points become story ingredients. A pollen spike might become a villain, a completed inhaler routine might strengthen a shield, and a difficult school moment might become a challenge the hero learns to navigate.
Why use visual metaphors?
Graphic medicine research suggests that illustrated stories can make technical or frightening information easier to approach. The metaphor should explain the barrier without blaming the child or turning asthma itself into a moral failure.
3. Read, reflect, and open a conversation
The story is designed to be read together. It can help a child explain embarrassment, forgetfulness, treatment worries, or playground experiences that may be difficult to raise through a standard tracker.
For parents and carers
The journal can provide a calmer prompt for asking what happened and why, without making the conversation feel punitive.
4. Bring clearer context to future care conversations
With appropriate consent and safeguards, the journal output could help families describe patterns and barriers during a consultation. It is intended to support, not replace, a clinician, prescribed treatment, or a Personalised Asthma Action Plan.
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