Using Humor in Diabetes Education Theresa Garnero, APRN,BC-ADM, MSN, CDE, cartoonist, author Clinical Nurse Manager of Center for Diabetes Services at California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, CA cartoons@tgarnero.com www.tgarnero.com 831-917-0749 Using Humor in Diabetes Education, by Theresa Garnero

Program Goal To inspire the integration of humor as a technique to promote diabetes education efforts. Get out alive Using Humor in Diabetes Education, by Theresa Garnero

Objectives Describe at least 3 effective strategies on how to incorporate humor as a diabetes education tool. Use a personalized approach when integrating humor in your practice. Compare patient assessment findings that show readiness for and evaluation of therapeutic humor within the AADE 7 Self Care Behaviors. Using Humor in Diabetes Education, by Theresa Garnero

Overview Background (history, theory, benefits) Healthcare specifics (when, how) Diabetes specifics (pt. populations) Cartoons and case studies of patient- generated humor Using Humor in Diabetes Education, by Theresa Garnero

Humor and Diabetes What is funny about diabetes? Research proves… What about humor and the self-care behaviors? Using Humor in Diabetes Education, by Theresa Garnero

Mulcahy K, Marynuik M, Peeples M, Peyrot M, Tomky D, Weaver T, Yarborough. Technical review of the diabetes self-management education core outcomes. Diabetes Educator. 2003;Vol29:No5. Using Humor in Diabetes Education, by Theresa Garnero

KEYS to Self-Management Using Humor in Diabetes Education, by Theresa Garnero

History, theory, and benefits, oh my! Part 1: Humor Foundation History, theory, and benefits, oh my! Using Humor in Diabetes Education, by Theresa Garnero

History of Humor Greek philosophers Presidential in-house humorists Norman Cousins More research on humor in the past 25 years than all centuries combined. Using Humor in Diabetes Education, by Theresa Garnero

Definitions Humor = Normal + Incongruity Humor makes you think differently Language vs. humor Humor is criticism, cloaked as entertainment Sense of humor – a readiness to find something to laugh about. Using Humor in Diabetes Education, by Theresa Garnero

Laughter Theories SURPRISE – catches you off guard and causes you to laugh. SUPERIORITY – laughter is a socially acceptable outlet for aggression. INCONGRUITY – triggers laughter by connecting 2 or 3 concepts that seem absurd RELEASE/RELIEF –laughter relieves tension and anxiety (e.g. nervous laughter). Freud said laughter is a physical manifestation of repressed thoughts … Conspiracy theory Using Humor in Diabetes Education, by Theresa Garnero

Humor-related Quotes “You don’t have to be funny to have a sense of humor.” – Jeanne Robertson “We see what we seek. We choose what to focus on.” – Yakov Smirnoff “A smile is the shortest distance between two people.” – Victor Borge “Humor is about something normal that is violated in someway that we can tolerate.” – Bob Mankoff “Humor is the good-natured side of truth.” – Mark Twain Using Humor in Diabetes Education, by Theresa Garnero

Common Humor Topics Sex makes up 50% of all jokes Ethnic humor is 2nd (family conflict is 3rd) More than 50% of all humor is based on a play-on-words (a twist on familiar cliches, metaphors, book/movie/song title, famous quotes, national ad slogans, or any expression known widely by the public) Using Humor in Diabetes Education, by Theresa Garnero