| Acceptance rate | 46% |
|---|---|
| Time to first decision | 6 months* |
| Time to decision with review | 50 days* |
*Approximate number of days
**The days mentioned above are averages and do not indicate exact durations. The process may vary for each article.
ACTA Pharmaceutica Sciencia
2025 , Vol 63 , Num 3
Content analysis of pictograms used in pharmaceutical leaflets in Turkey
1 Baskent University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Healthcare Management, Ankara, Türkiye2 Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Healthcare Management, Kahramanmaras, Türkiye
DOI : 10.23893/1307-2080.APS6345 Viewed : 27 - Downloaded : 13 This study investigates the use of pictograms in pharmaceutical leaflets in Turkey as a means to enhance patient understanding and compliance with medication instructions. The research examines the frequency, characteristics, and effectiveness of pictograms in drug instructions licensed by the Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency. A cross-sectional, exploratory, and descriptive approach was used to analyze 17,709 drugs, with a focus on 1,959 drugs that feature at least one pictogram. Findings indicated that 11.1% (n=1,959) of licensed drugs utilized pictograms, mainly for sensory organ and respiratory system medications requiring specific administration. The study found most pictograms to be simple, averaging under seven images. Notably, 55.95% (n=1,095) included human figures, yet only 32.8% (n=359) depicted full faces or bodies. Pictograms with accompanying text were infrequent, but 96.3% (n=428) of the included text was readable. Consequently, promoting the widespread use of a standardized pictogram set within the Turkish pharmaceutical sector is crucial. Keywords : health communication, medication adherence, pharmaceutical leaflets, pharmaceutical pictograms, Turkey