Effectiveness of Medication Pictograms on Accidental Ingestion Prevention by the Elderly

Abstract

For the purpose of preventing accidental ingestion of medications by the elderly, 91 elderly persons aged 65 or older were asked about their actual medication use, amongst other things. In addition, for each of eight pictograms, five design samples and 12 colors were presented, and they were asked to choose the design and color that was easiest to understand. Results showed that 88% of participants took their medications regularly and about 12% had experienced medication errors in the past. The most easily recognized patterns were those in which the actual behavior was briefly described and those in which the simple pattern was accompanied by text. However, there were concerns that the text would be too small and difficult to read, and that the Japanese might not be readable by foreigners. The most recognizable color was skin color, followed by black and red. Approximately 80% of the elderly responded that medication pictograms are useful in preventing them from taking the wrong medicine and/or dosage, suggesting the usefulness of medication pictograms.