Applicability of the REALM health literacy test to an English second-language South African population:
- Dowse, Roslind, Lecoko, Motlalepule L E, Ehlers, Martina S
- Authors: Dowse, Roslind , Lecoko, Motlalepule L E , Ehlers, Martina S
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/156798 , vital:40051 , https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-010-9392-y
- Description: Objective and setting. To investigate health literacy in an English second language population using the REALM test, to evaluate its appropriateness and to compare health literacy between four different education categories. Setting Primary healthcare clinics and participant homes in Grahamstown, South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Dowse, Roslind , Lecoko, Motlalepule L E , Ehlers, Martina S
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/156798 , vital:40051 , https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-010-9392-y
- Description: Objective and setting. To investigate health literacy in an English second language population using the REALM test, to evaluate its appropriateness and to compare health literacy between four different education categories. Setting Primary healthcare clinics and participant homes in Grahamstown, South Africa.
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- Date Issued: 2010
Medicine labels incorporating pictograms: do they influence understanding and adherence?
- Dowse, Roslind, Ehlers, Martina S
- Authors: Dowse, Roslind , Ehlers, Martina S
- Date: 2005
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6359 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006051
- Description: The objective was to determine the influence of medicine labels incorporating pictograms on the understanding of instructions and on adherence. Eighty-seven Xhosa participants attending an outpatient clinic who had been prescribed a short course of antibiotics were randomly allocated to either a control group (41 participants given text-only labels), or an experimental group (46 participants given text + pictogram labels). All participants had a maximum of 10 years of formal schooling. Follow-up home visits were conducted after 3–5 days to assess understanding of instructions and to evaluate adherence. A high adherence of greater than 90% was found for 54% of the experimental group, compared with only 2% of the control group. Average percentages for understanding in the control and experimental groups were 70 and 95%, respectively, and average adherence was 72 and 90%, respectively. The presence of pictograms was found to contribute positively to both understanding of instructions and adherence.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Dowse, Roslind , Ehlers, Martina S
- Date: 2005
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6359 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006051
- Description: The objective was to determine the influence of medicine labels incorporating pictograms on the understanding of instructions and on adherence. Eighty-seven Xhosa participants attending an outpatient clinic who had been prescribed a short course of antibiotics were randomly allocated to either a control group (41 participants given text-only labels), or an experimental group (46 participants given text + pictogram labels). All participants had a maximum of 10 years of formal schooling. Follow-up home visits were conducted after 3–5 days to assess understanding of instructions and to evaluate adherence. A high adherence of greater than 90% was found for 54% of the experimental group, compared with only 2% of the control group. Average percentages for understanding in the control and experimental groups were 70 and 95%, respectively, and average adherence was 72 and 90%, respectively. The presence of pictograms was found to contribute positively to both understanding of instructions and adherence.
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- Date Issued: 2005
Pictograms for conveying medicine instructions: comprehension in various South African language groups
- Dowse, Roslind, Ehlers, Martina S
- Authors: Dowse, Roslind , Ehlers, Martina S
- Date: 2004
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6354 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006038
- Description: The comprehension of medicine instructions is essential for the safe and effective use of medicines. In cases where low literacy constitutes a possible barrier to understanding written medicine information fully, the inclusion of pictograms may facilitate comprehension. Twenty-three internationally available pictograms and 23 corresponding locally developed images were evaluated in 304 low-literate respondents from eight different South African language groups. Demographic data were collected and an English literacy test was administered to those respondents who had stated that they could read English. Interviewees were shown the 46 pictograms in random order and were asked for their interpretation. Preference for either the international or local version was assessed. Correct interpretation of individual pictograms ranged from 14% to 97%. Images which had been developed locally were more successful in eliciting correct interpretations than those obtained from an international source (USP pictograms). Only 2 of the 23 USP pictograms achieved the 85% criterion of the American National Standards Institute compared with 12 of 23 locally developed counterparts. Local pictograms were preferred over the American ones in all cases. Standard of education had a significant influence on interpretation, whereas no significant differences in interpretation could be attributed to cultural diversity between the African language groups. Almost all respondents (98%) reacted positively to the idea of having pictograms on their medicine labels. The success of the local pictograms highlighted the value of a rigorous and consultative design and test process. Results from one African language group can reliably be extrapolated to other groups in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2004
- Authors: Dowse, Roslind , Ehlers, Martina S
- Date: 2004
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6354 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006038
- Description: The comprehension of medicine instructions is essential for the safe and effective use of medicines. In cases where low literacy constitutes a possible barrier to understanding written medicine information fully, the inclusion of pictograms may facilitate comprehension. Twenty-three internationally available pictograms and 23 corresponding locally developed images were evaluated in 304 low-literate respondents from eight different South African language groups. Demographic data were collected and an English literacy test was administered to those respondents who had stated that they could read English. Interviewees were shown the 46 pictograms in random order and were asked for their interpretation. Preference for either the international or local version was assessed. Correct interpretation of individual pictograms ranged from 14% to 97%. Images which had been developed locally were more successful in eliciting correct interpretations than those obtained from an international source (USP pictograms). Only 2 of the 23 USP pictograms achieved the 85% criterion of the American National Standards Institute compared with 12 of 23 locally developed counterparts. Local pictograms were preferred over the American ones in all cases. Standard of education had a significant influence on interpretation, whereas no significant differences in interpretation could be attributed to cultural diversity between the African language groups. Almost all respondents (98%) reacted positively to the idea of having pictograms on their medicine labels. The success of the local pictograms highlighted the value of a rigorous and consultative design and test process. Results from one African language group can reliably be extrapolated to other groups in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2004
Pharmaceutical Pictograms: Part 1: Communicating Medicine Information to the Low-literate Patient
- Dowse, Roslind, Ehlers, Martina S
- Authors: Dowse, Roslind , Ehlers, Martina S
- Date: 2003
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/157026 , vital:40080
- Description: To assess the influence of formal education on the interpretation of pharmaceutical pictograms.
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- Date Issued: 2003
- Authors: Dowse, Roslind , Ehlers, Martina S
- Date: 2003
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/157026 , vital:40080
- Description: To assess the influence of formal education on the interpretation of pharmaceutical pictograms.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2003
Pharmaceutical Pictograms: part 2: weird and wonderful interpretations
- Dowse, Roslind, Ehlers, Martina S
- Authors: Dowse, Roslind , Ehlers, Martina S
- Date: 2003
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/157037 , vital:40081
- Description: To assess the influence of formal education on the interpretation of pharmaceutical pictograms.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2003
- Authors: Dowse, Roslind , Ehlers, Martina S
- Date: 2003
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/157037 , vital:40081
- Description: To assess the influence of formal education on the interpretation of pharmaceutical pictograms.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2003
The influence of education on the interpretation of pharmaceutical pictograms for communicating medicine instructions:
- Dowse, Roslind, Ehlers, Martina S
- Authors: Dowse, Roslind , Ehlers, Martina S
- Date: 2003
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/157014 , vital:40079 , DOI 10.1211/002235702810
- Description: To assess the influence of formal education on the interpretation of pharmaceutical pictograms.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2003
- Authors: Dowse, Roslind , Ehlers, Martina S
- Date: 2003
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/157014 , vital:40079 , DOI 10.1211/002235702810
- Description: To assess the influence of formal education on the interpretation of pharmaceutical pictograms.
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- Date Issued: 2003
The evaluation of pharmaceutical pictograms in a low-literate South African population
- Dowse, Roslind, Ehlers, Martina S
- Authors: Dowse, Roslind , Ehlers, Martina S
- Date: 2001
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6362 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006058
- Description: An inability to read and understand written medication instructions may be a major contributory factor to non-compliance in certain patient populations, particularly in countries with a high illiteracy rate such as South Africa. Twenty three pictograms from the USP-DI and a corresponding set of 23 locally developed, culturally sensitive pictograms for conveying medication instructions were evaluated in 46 Xhosa respondents who had attended school for a maximum of 7 years. Respondents were tested for their interpretation of all 46 pictograms at the first interview and again 3 weeks later. The correct meaning of each pictogram was explained at the end of the first interview. Preference for either the Local or USP pictograms was determined. At the follow-up interview, 20 of the Local pictograms complied with the ANSI criterion of ≥85% comprehension, compared with 11 of the USP pictograms. Respondents indicated an overwhelming preference for the Local pictograms.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2001
- Authors: Dowse, Roslind , Ehlers, Martina S
- Date: 2001
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6362 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006058
- Description: An inability to read and understand written medication instructions may be a major contributory factor to non-compliance in certain patient populations, particularly in countries with a high illiteracy rate such as South Africa. Twenty three pictograms from the USP-DI and a corresponding set of 23 locally developed, culturally sensitive pictograms for conveying medication instructions were evaluated in 46 Xhosa respondents who had attended school for a maximum of 7 years. Respondents were tested for their interpretation of all 46 pictograms at the first interview and again 3 weeks later. The correct meaning of each pictogram was explained at the end of the first interview. Preference for either the Local or USP pictograms was determined. At the follow-up interview, 20 of the Local pictograms complied with the ANSI criterion of ≥85% comprehension, compared with 11 of the USP pictograms. Respondents indicated an overwhelming preference for the Local pictograms.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2001
Pictograms in pharmacy:
- Dowse, Roslind, Ehlers, Martina S
- Authors: Dowse, Roslind , Ehlers, Martina S
- Date: 1998
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/157048 , vital:40082 , https://0-doi.org.wam.seals.ac.za/10.1111/j.2042-7174.1998.tb00924.x
- Description: This review examines the use of pictograms in health care. Well designed pictograms are simple, clear, graphic symbols able to convey their intended meaning to all patients, including those who are illiterate, elderly or visually impaired. Although some research on the effectiveness of pictograms has not supported the hypothesis that pictograms are beneficial for the acquisition and comprehension of information, most studies investigating health‐related applications of pictograms have shown them to be of benefit in the comprehension and recall of instructions on prescription and over‐the‐counter medicines. However, the success of pictograms as a communication aid in pharmacy depends first on a rigorous design process, followed by well‐designed, randomised, controlled trials using an appropriate method of evaluation. The final stage is to investigate the optimal way of using pictograms in practice and to assess their effect on behavioural outcomes, such as compliance.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1998
- Authors: Dowse, Roslind , Ehlers, Martina S
- Date: 1998
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/157048 , vital:40082 , https://0-doi.org.wam.seals.ac.za/10.1111/j.2042-7174.1998.tb00924.x
- Description: This review examines the use of pictograms in health care. Well designed pictograms are simple, clear, graphic symbols able to convey their intended meaning to all patients, including those who are illiterate, elderly or visually impaired. Although some research on the effectiveness of pictograms has not supported the hypothesis that pictograms are beneficial for the acquisition and comprehension of information, most studies investigating health‐related applications of pictograms have shown them to be of benefit in the comprehension and recall of instructions on prescription and over‐the‐counter medicines. However, the success of pictograms as a communication aid in pharmacy depends first on a rigorous design process, followed by well‐designed, randomised, controlled trials using an appropriate method of evaluation. The final stage is to investigate the optimal way of using pictograms in practice and to assess their effect on behavioural outcomes, such as compliance.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1998
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