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Using Cartoons to Transfer Knowledge Concerning the Principles of Work Disability Prevention Among Stakeholders

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Abstract

Purpose This study assesses how well two cartoons transfer knowledge of principles of work disability prevention among stakeholders, according to their level of experience. We also document stakeholders’ perceptions of the usefulness of the cartoons. Method We performed a descriptive study. Two groups of stakeholders were recruited: (1) experienced (working for more than 2 years in work disability), (2) non-experienced (in training). A self-administered questionnaire with open-ended questions documented stakeholders’ understanding of each cartoon box and their perception of the possible usefulness of the cartoons. We transformed qualitative responses into quantitative responses for descriptive purposes. We performed independent t tests to compare the groups’ level of understanding, and content analysis for the perception of usefulness. Results Overall, 149 stakeholders (50 experienced and 99 non-experienced) participated and identified 79.4 and 61.4 % of all principles presented in each of the two cartoons respectively. Experienced stakeholders identified more principles compared to non-experienced stakeholders (p = 0.007). Both cartoons were perceived to be useful for knowledge transfer. Conclusions Principles were generally well identified in the cartoons by all participants. Cartoons can be used as an effective tool among stakeholders to achieve a common understanding in order to coordinate their actions.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the participants of the study as well as Mrs. Quan Nha Hong, Mr. Pierre Durand (professional cartoonist), Mr. Pedro D’Orleans-Juste, and the team at the Centre universitaire d’enrichissement de la formation à la recherche at the Université de Sherbrooke for their precious help in the writing of this article.

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Correspondence to Marie-France Coutu.

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Funding

This study was supported by the work disability prevention research team financed by the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé and by the Chair on Work Disability Prevention, J. Armand Bombardier Foundation and Pratt & Whitney Canada.

Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

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Labrecque, ME., Coutu, MF., Durand, MJ. et al. Using Cartoons to Transfer Knowledge Concerning the Principles of Work Disability Prevention Among Stakeholders. J Occup Rehabil 26, 141–149 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-015-9595-0

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