Describe how cultures affect the understanding of specific pictograms
The following pictograms have been shown to cause misunderstanding for people of different cultures.
Take with water.
This pictogram shows a person drinking from a cup. In some parts of Africs, like in Benin and Gabon where those pictograms have been validated, the local population use a cup with a handle to drink. In other countries, people use a glass that does not have a handle to drink water.
Take three times a day
The three pictograms above represent the morning (sunrise), noon (full sun) and the evening (sunset). It has been proposed that patient may not take their medication on a cloudy day or if they are in an area of the globe where the sun does not set (poles) during the summer months.
At night or bedtime
The left pictogram is used in non-muslim country where the crescent is associated with other significations (like the red crescent for emergency medical services). For the muslim countries, the right pictogram was developed, where the crescent has been replaced by a full moon and four stars.
Take with food.
This pictogram was used in a country where the meals are mainly composed of fish and cereals.
Do not take alcohol.
This pictogram was used in a country where alcohol is normally contained in jugs. The container may greatly vary between different countries and cultures.
