Journal of Pharmacovigilance

Role of pictograms in educating diabetic patients about medication use and life style modifications

3^rd International Conference and Exhibition on Pharmacovigilance & Clinical Trials

October 27-29, 2014 Hyderabad International Convention Centre, India

Vuyyuru V Krishna Reddy, Narmadha M, Ramya Krishna K and Sankar V

Posters: J Pharmacovigilance

Abstract:

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas is no longer able to make insulin, or when the body cannot make good use of the insulin it produces. It can be controlled using oral hypoglycemic agents and /or insulin and lifestyle modifications. This current study assess the role of pictograms in educating the diabetic patients about proper medication use and lifestyle modifications with a major objective, identifying pictogram comprehension differing based on gender, age group, level of education and compliance to medications in diabetic patients and to develop a patient information leaflet. It is an open label, observational comparative study. This study reveals that pictograms are generally well understood by the diabetic patients when the intended meaning of the pictograms are explained. The response to the pictograms for Guessability and Translucency was done using a 3 point and 5 point visual analogue LIKERT scale respectively. Statistical significance was obtained only with levels of education in Guessability (0.040) and Translucency (0.050). The overall Guessability (all pictograms included) was 69.6% and the overall Translucency was 90.9 %. This study suggests that pictograms play a vital role in educating patients and can be used as an effective counseling aid in a low-literacy group of people.

Biography :

Vuyyuru V Krishna Reddy currently pursuing PharmD (Doctor of Pharmacy) internship at PSG Hospitals, Coimbatore, and Tamil Nadu. He has participated and presented various poster and oral presentations in national and international conferences. He is interested in clinical research and pharmacoepidemology. He is an active member in IPA (Indian Pharmaceutical Association).