Improving patient education through better medical illustrations
Official title: Advancing Medical Illustration in Patient Education Materials: from Art to Science
Funded at Northeastern University · NIH-11110433 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how different types of medical illustrations can help patients understand their health better and feel less anxious, and it will involve over 8,100 people trying out new educational materials and tools that explain these illustrations in fun ways, including virtual reality.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northeastern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $383,627 |
| NIH project number | 5R01LM014084-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11110433 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation are adults over 21 who are seeking to improve their understanding of medical concepts through educational materials.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are under 21 years old or those who do not engage with visual educational materials may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how different styles of medical illustrations affect patient understanding and anxiety. It involves creating a comprehensive guide to various illustration styles and developing educational materials that incorporate these styles. The project will evaluate the effectiveness of these materials by testing them with over 8,100 individuals to see how well they comprehend the information and how anxious they feel. Additionally, it will explore the use of conversational agents that can explain these materials in both traditional and virtual reality formats.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance patient understanding of medical information and reduce anxiety related to health conditions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that effective visual communication can significantly improve patient comprehension and engagement, suggesting that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Northeastern University
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bickmore, Timothy W. — Northeastern University
- Study coordinator: Bickmore, Timothy W.
Related research
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.