Beyond words: Enhancing medication understanding with pictograph-integrated pharmacist counseling in linguistically diverse patients
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Background Patients frequently struggle with medication adherence due to issues such as poor recall, forgetfulness, or misunderstanding of medical instructions. This can lead to improper medication use, uncontrolled health conditions, and increased hospitalizations. Research indicates that pictographs can improve patient understanding and retention of medication information, suggesting their potential value in pharmacy consultations. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the impact of pharmacist-led counseling with pictographs on patients' comprehension of medication usage and side effects. We hypothesized that integrating pictographs into verbal counseling would enhance understanding, especially among linguistically diverse populations. Methods Conducted from April to June 2020 in two Austin, Texas, community pharmacies serving English and Spanish-speaking patients, the study involved a prospective longitudinal cohort design. Participants were assigned to one of four cohorts based on their medication type: English- and Spanish speaking patients receiving new acute medications lasting 90 days or less, and those with new or refilled chronic medications lasting longer than 90 days. All groups received pictograph-assisted counseling using the Three Prime Questions framework, which included a teach-back assessment and a post-counseling questionnaire. Results A total of 27 participants were enrolled, with 21 in the acute cohort and 6 in the chronic cohort. Most participants (70.4%) preferred Spanish as their communicative language. Notably, 85.7% of participants reported that the pictographs enhanced their understanding of their medications, with 93.8% of Spanish speakers expressing this sentiment. All participants indicated that they would be willing to use the pictograph again in future counseling sessions. Conclusion Despite challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, results indicate that pictographs significantly improve medication comprehension among diverse linguistic groups. These findings provide a promising foundation for future research into the role of pictographs in enhancing patient understanding and adherence in various pharmacy settings.
Source: JAPhA Practice Innovations
Authors: K. Ashley Garling, Maeleigh Tidd
Institutions: The University of Texas at Austin, University of Miami
Language: English
Subfield: Pharmacy
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $850
Funder: University of Texas at Austin
OpenAlex ID: W7214736857