Development and validation of a self-report measure of practical barriers to medication adherence: The medication practical barriers to adherence questionnaire (MPRAQ).

Abstract

This study reports the development and validation of a new self-report measure, the Medication Practical barriers to Adherence Questionnaire (MPRAQ), which assesses practical barriers to medication adherence. The MPRAQ comprises 15 statements describing practical barriers. Responses are scored on a 5-point Likert scale; higher scores indicate more practical barriers. Initial face validity was evaluated by cognitive testing with patients from a diabetes support group. Following refinement, internal reliability and construct validity were assessed in two samples: patients recruited via Amazon mTurk and the Nivel Dutch Healthcare Consumer Panel (COPA). Respondents completed the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ-General and BMQ-Specific), and the Medication Adherence Report Scale (MARS-5). The mTurk sample also completed the Perceived Sensitivity to Medicines questionnaire (PSM) and repeated the MPRAQ 2weeks later to assess test-retest reliability. Face validity was evaluated in 15 patients (46% female; mean (SD) age 64 (12) years). A total of 184 mTurk participants completed the questionnaire (in English) and 334 in COPA (in Dutch). Internal reliability was acceptable (mTurk α=0.89; COPA α=0.94). Construct validity was confirmed, with significant correlation between the MPRAQ and BMQ-Specific Concerns (mTurk r=0.546, P<.0001; COPA r=0.370, P<.0001), BMQ-General Harm (mTurk r=0.504, P<0.0001; COPA r=0.219, P<.0001), BMQ-General Overuse (mTurk r=0.324, P<.0001; COPA r=0.109, P=.047) and PSM (mTurk only r=0.463, P<.0001), and a negative correlation with MARS-5 (mTurk r=-0.450, P<.0001; COPA r=-0.260, P<.0001). MPRAQ did not correlate with BMQ-Specific Necessity or BMQ-General Benefit. Correlation between MPRAQ baseline and 2-week follow-up scores confirmed test-retest reliability (r=0.745, P<.0001; n=52). MPRAQ is a reliable and valid self-report measure of practical adherence barriers.