The Spanish pictogram on medicines and driving: The population's comprehension of and attitudes towards its use on medication packaging.

Abstract

The Spanish pictogram on medicines and driving is legally binding since 2011. We have evaluated patients’ comprehension, change in driving frequency and the perceived usefulness, information, comprehensibility, and simplicity of this pictogram on 1385 Spaniards users of the National Health Service (pharmacies, primary care and hospital centres). Most, 85.7%, correctly related the symbol with the possible effects of the medicine on driving and the 83.9% of the drivers would reduce the frequency with which they drive when prescribed a medicine with such pictogram. The pictogram was found, in a 10- point Likert, useful (8.3 ± 1.7), informative (7.7 ± 1.9), comprehensible (7.8 ± 1.9) and simple (7.8 ± 1.9). The Spanish pictogram on medicines and driving is understood by the great majority of those interviewed; is well considered by the users of the National Health Service; and offers good prospects for reinforce the awareness of health care professionals and patients on the effects of medicines on driving.