Susanne Jank

The A14-scale: development and evaluation of a questionnaire for assessment of adherence and individual barriers

Objective To develop a questionnaire (“A14”) for the description of adherence and individual barriers as basis for adherence-enhancing interventions in the clinical and pharmaceutical setting, and to compare it to the validated German MMAS (Morisky Medication Adherence Scale). Method Fourteen questions with a 5-item likert-scale from “never” (4) to “very often” (0) were given to 150 medical inpatients. According to their score, patients were classified into non-adherent (score <50) or adherent (score 50–56). On the dichotomous MMAS, “yes” is scored 0 and “no” 1 point, a total score of 4 indicating adherence. Patients with complete scales were compared with the remaining patients regarding socio-demographic factors. Descriptive statistics, Cronbach’s Alpha, Spearman correlation, and κ were computed. Results Eighty-three participants completed both scales. Patients with missing values differed significantly regarding age, education, and adherence according to MMAS. Cronbach’s Alpha for A14 was 0.861. MMAS and A14 median total scores were 4 and 52, respectively. About 39.5% of patients were non-adherent as per MMAS compared to 40% as per A14; κ was 0.262 (P = 0.016). The total scores correlated with a Rho-value of 0.43 (P < 0.001). Conclusion The A14-scale showed good internal consistency and a significant correlation with the MMAS suggesting that it merits further investigation.

Can a feedback report and training session on medication counseling for general practitioners improve patient satisfaction with information on medicines

Background Regular intake of medicines prevents hospitalization and improves treatment outcomes in patients with chronic diseases; however, requires good patient–physician communication. Yet, this communication is often insufficient and characterized by misunderstandings. This paper aimed to explore whether a training session on medication counseling for general practitioners (GPs) can improve patient satisfaction about information on medicines. Methods Within a seamless care project (HeiCare®), a questionnaire to assess patient satisfaction with information on medicines and other questions related to medication issues was distributed among 370 patients. Results were returned to physicians in a feedback report, discussed in a training session, and a subsequent second questionnaire was sent to patients. Results Patients showed a significant increase in satisfaction with overall information on medicines and with information on potential problems when experiencing medication counseling after their GP received a feedback report and/or training session. Conclusion Individual feedback and training sessions can improve medication counseling and GPs’ awareness of patients’ attitudes toward medicines and thus increase patients’ satisfaction with medicines information received. Regular feedback to the GP on patients’ satisfaction with information and patients’ beliefs in medicines can be obtained by patient surveys or by addressing these issues in regular medication counseling encounters. Physicians need to be trained to listen to patients’ views and concerns on medication.

Psychometric Properties of a German Version of the “Satisfaction with Information about Medicines Scale” (SIMS-D)

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to translate the Satisfaction with Information about Medicines Scale (SIMS) into German and test its psychometric properties in a German primary care setting. The SIMS was developed to assess the extent to which patients feel they have received enough information about their medicines. METHODS Three hundred seventy chronically ill patients were included in the study. The SIMS was translated to SIMS-D (German version) and evaluated in terms of acceptability, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, discriminant, and criterion-related validity. RESULTS The SIMS-D showed good internal consistency (Cronbachs alpha 0.92) and adequate test-retest reliability (Pearsons r > 0.7). Relationships to external criteria regarding medication management were acceptable (Spearmans rho > 0.4). The SIMS-D was reasonably well accepted (return rate of 71%); however, older people produced more missing values when filling in the questionnaire. CONCLUSIONS Preliminary evidence was given that the SIMS-D is a suitable instrument for measuring patient satisfaction with information about medicines in German primary care settings.