As governments grapple with how best to lift vaccination rates, Aussie researchers have found the value of injecting humour into health messaging.

The strategy is particularly effective for delivering information that can cause fear, and if used well, can act as an ’emotional buffer’ when discussing topics such as breast and testicular cancer self-examination, safe sex, skin cancer and binge drinking, the authors say.

Scottish comedian and women’s health physiotherapist Elaine Miller teamed up with Monash University researchers in Melbourne who analysed 13 studies over 10 years whereby humour was used to communicate serious messages.

“What we found is that humour can act as an effective vehicle for delivering messages people might find fear-inducing or threatening,” Ms Miller said.