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Cited by 114Safety Warnings and SignageVisual and Cognitive Learning ProcessesPatient-Provider Communication in Healthcare

Icons improve older and younger adults’ comprehension of medication information

Morrow, D. G., Hier, C. M., Menard, W. E., Leirer, V. O.·1998·The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
DOI 10.1093/geronb/53b.4.p240
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Abstract

We examined whether timeline icons improved older and younger adults' comprehension of medication information. In Experiment 1, comprehension of instructions with the icon (icon/text format) and without the icon (text-only format) was assessed by questions about information that was (a) implicit in the text but depicted explicitly by the icon (total dose in a 24 hour period), (b) stated and depicted in the icon/text condition (medication dose and times), and (c) stated but not depicted by the icon (e.g., side effects). In a separate task, participants also recalled medication instructions (with or without the icon) after a study period. We found that questions about dose and time information were answered more quickly and accurately when the icon was present in the instructions. Notably, icon benefits were greater for information that was implicit rather than stated in the text. This finding suggests that icons can improve older and younger adults' comprehension by reducing the need to draw some inferences. The icon also reduced effective study time (study time per item recalled). In Experiment 2, icon benefits did not occur for a less integrated version of the timeline icon that, like the text, required participants to integrate dose and time information in order to identify the total daily dose. The integrated version of the icon again improved comprehension, as in Experiment 1, as well as drawing inferences from memory. These findings show that integrated timeline icons improved comprehension primarily by aiding the integration of dose and time information. These findings are discussed in terms of a situation model approach to comprehension.

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Crossref · 10.1093/geronb/53b.4.p240

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  • Working memory is implicated in the ability to use graphical aids, remember to attend appointments, search for and retrieve information, and use touch-tone IVR systems.

    “Working memory has been implicated in the ability to use graphical aids (Lohse, 1997; vander Meulen et al., 2009), remember to attend appointments (Morrow et al., 1998), search for and retrieve information (Sharit et al., 2004), and, crucially, use touch-tone IVR systems (Sharit et al., 2003).”

    From Reducing working memory load in spoken dialogue systems (2009) · cites this paper as Morrow et al., 1998

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Authors
Morrow, D. G., Hier, C. M., Menard, W. E., & Leirer, V. O.
Affiliations
University of New Hampshire (US)
Corresponding author
Morrow, D. G.
Venue
The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
1998-07-01
Volume
53B
Issue
4
Pages
P240-P254
ISSN
  • 1079-5014 (ISSN-L)
  • 1758-5368
DOI
10.1093/geronb/53b.4.p240
OpenAlex
W2168272971
Cited by
114
References
26
Citations by year
2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 8
FWCI
0.00
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • The Journals of Gerontology Series B (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (5r01ag012163-05, 7r01ag009254-03)
  • National Institute on Aging (R01 AG-12163, R01 AGO9254)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Safety Warnings and Signage
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Visual and Cognitive Learning Processes
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Patient-Provider Communication in Healthcare
Keywords
icons, medication instructions, medication comprehension, older adults, age differences, implicit information, memory retrieval, situation model, visual aids, adverse drug reactions
MeSH terms
Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Attention, Choice Behavior, Concept Formation, Consumer Behavior, Drug Administration Schedule, Drug Labeling, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Mental Recall, Writing

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