The Validation of Pharmaceutical Pictograms Among Turkish Individuals Aged 50 and Over

Adherence to medical treatment is defined as the extent to which a patient's or caregivers' behaviours regarding medication use align with medical recommendations.The increasing incidence of medication non-adherence among older adults leads to various adverse outcomes, including the deterioration of medical conditions, decreased quality of life, increased morbidity and mortality, higher rates of hospital readmission, prolonged hospital stays, and escalating healthcare costs (6).Therefore, it is crucial to optimally present the medications AbstractObjective: Aging is associated with physiological changes that impact medication use and adherence, particularly among older adults.This study evaluates the validity and comprehensibility of pharmaceutical pictograms developed by the International Pharmaceutical Federation for individuals aged 50-79 in Trkiye. Materials and Methods:A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 150 participants visiting a community pharmacy in Ankara.Data were collected through a structured questionnaire assessing socio-demographic characteristics, health literacy, and understanding of 15 selected pictograms.Results: Indicated that 46.6% of the pictograms were valid, with an average prediction performance of 61.01%.Factors such as health literacy and familiarity with medication instructions significantly influenced participants' understanding. Conclusion:The findings suggest a need for culturally appropriate pictograms and enhanced health literacy initiatives to improve medication adherence among older adults in Trkiye.