THE ROLE OF PICTOGRAMS IN ADR REPORTING IN HIV POSITIVE PATIENTS

The aim of this study is to assess the impact of pictograms in reporting ADRs in antiretroviral therapy in HIV positive patients. Even after an increase in the level of awareness about AIDS in India, still Tamilnadu is one among the six-high HIV prevalence states in India. ADRs are most likely to occur in ART regimens and reporting of the same by the patients is vital for the optimal care. As Pictograms may serve as one of the tools to improve ADR reporting by the patients, a prospective interventional study was conducted at the Government ART Centre at Ooty, The Nilgiris. Pictograms were developed and tested for validity using ISO criteria, transparency and translucency tests involving 100 participants and about 66% comprehensiveness was found. A total of 160 patients were enrolled in the study and randomised into intervention group and control group. The intervention group was provided with pictograms to report ADRs and control group was provided standard counselling. A total of 239 ADRs were reported by the participants in which about 66% of the ADR reports were by the intervention group and 34% from the control group.

Autorentext
Dr. M. Deepalakshmi. graduated in Pharmacy in 1997 from Periyar College of Pharmaceutical Sciences for Girls, Trichy. She entered into teaching career in the same year after a short termtraining in M/s. Karnataka Antibiotics and Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Bengaluru. She completed her M. Pharmacy course in Pharmacy Practice specialization at JSS College.