Authors: Sasha Tanner & Cinthya Fillips
A picture is worth a thousand words, and in the world of prescription drugs, it can convey vital information for individual and overall public safety. One study conducted by Fukuda, Ando, and Saito examined the effects of pictograms on medication-taking and driving behavior.
Background information
The Japanese Council for Appropriate Drug Use (RAD-AR) designed pictograms for prescription drugs, which are categorized into no impairment, caution, or prohibition. In April 2018, the research group distributed an online survey to 665 participants measuring the effectiveness of pictograms in reducing impaired driving. Questions included the following information:
- Sex
- Age (all participants were less than 80 years old)
- Education level (junior high, high school, college, etc.)
- How often the participant drives
- Health information
- Level of understanding towards the risk of driving after taking a certain prescription drug (i.e., risk perception)
- Attitudes toward the pictograms’ usefulness
What did the complete survey information reveal?
The researchers noticed the following trends based on the survey results:
- Education levels did not influence awareness of the pictogram, risk perception, medication-taking, and driving behaviors of RAD-AR Council’s pictograms.
- 65 participants knew about the pictograms and their purpose, with significantly higher levels for men (7.3%) than women (3.5%).
- Women and participants in their 50s had a higher risk perception after viewing the pictogram than did men.
- Older participants in their 50s, 60s, and 70s considered the pictograms as significantly more useful than did those in their 20s.
Next, the research group organized participants’ answers into predictive factors of medication-taking and driving behaviors based on combinations of recognizable patterns.
- Negative behaviors happen when the patient does not follow medical instruction by taking the prescription drug with the pictogram and choosing to drive.
- Positive behaviors are when a patient obeys instructions to consume the medication and opt out of driving.
Results convey that recognizing the pictogram enforces positive behaviors in people who drive less and have higher risk perception. Moreover, women demonstrated more positive behaviors than men.
The study’s findings suggest that using clear pictograms on prescription medications could help reduce medication-impaired driving episodes in Texas. By increasing awareness and risk perception, these visual alerts can encourage drivers to avoid driving after taking impairing drugs and consult healthcare professionals. Implementing pictograms on medication labels, combined with pharmacist counseling and public education campaigns, could be an effective strategy to address impaired driving crashes in Texas, especially among older drivers and those less familiar with medication risks.
Implications for Impaired Driving Prevention
- Effectiveness of Visual Alerts: The pictogram raised awareness and risk perception, which influenced many drivers to adopt safer practices (e.g., not driving, consulting professionals).
- Demographic Sensitivity: Older drivers perceived higher risk; less frequent drivers and women showed better compliance—suggesting targeted education may be beneficial.
- Need for Reinforcement: Because awareness was initially low, healthcare professionals play a vital role in reinforcing pictogram meaning and prompting patient discussions about daily life demands.
- Labeling Integration: The authors recommend placing such pictograms on medication packaging (outer box, inserts, bottles) to enhance visibility and impact.
Summary
The study supports that a clear, well-designed pictogram indicating driving risks on medication can:
- Increase awareness and risk understanding
- Motivate safer behaviors such as consulting professionals or avoiding driving
- Be most effective when supported by healthcare provider communication and visible labeling choices
By combining visual warnings with professional reinforcement, caregivers and health systems can significantly contribute to preventing medication-related impaired driving.
You can read the full study at the link below.
Source: Fukuda, Yasue, Shuji Ando, & Moemi Saito. (2020). Effect of a Japanese drug alert pictogram on medication-taking/driving behavior. Traffic Injury Prevention, 21(1), 18-23. https://doi.org/10.1080/15389588.2019.1680838
