The eight-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale MMAS: Translation and validation of the Malaysian version

• Published in: Diabetes research and clinical practice Vol. 90; no. 2; pp. 216 - 221
• Main Authors: Al-Qazaz, Harith Kh, Hassali, Mohamed A, Shafie, Asrul A, Sulaiman, Syed A, Sundram, Shameni, Morisky, Donald E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.11.2010
• Subjects: Adherence; Aged; Cross-Sectional Studies; Delivery of Health Care; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - drug therapy; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - psychology; Endocrinology & Metabolism; Female; Glycated Hemoglobin - metabolism; Humans; Hypoglycemic Agents - therapeutic use; Language; Malaysia; Male; Medication Adherence; Middle Aged; Morisky scale; Racial Groups; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; Type 2 diabetes; Validation; Malaysia; Type 2 diabetes; Validation; Morisky scale; NHMS; DM; diabetes mellitus; Type 2 DM; Adherence; MMAS; Morisky Medication Adherence Scale; type 2 diabetes mellitus; haemoglobin A1C; HbA1c; National Health and Morbidity Survey
• ISSN: 0168-8227; 1872-8227; 1872-8227
• DOI: 10.1016/j.diabres.2010.08.012

Abstract Aims To translate and examine the psychometric properties of the Malaysian version of the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS) among patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods A standard “forward–backward” procedure was used to translate MMAS into Malay language. It was later validated on a convenience sample of 223 type 2 diabetes outpatients between May and September 2009. Reliability was tested for internal consistency. Validity was confirmed using convergent and known group validity. Results Employing the recommended scoring method, the mean ± SD of MMAS scores was 6.13 ± 1.72. Moderate internal consistency was found (Cronbach's α = 0.675), the test–retest reliability value was 0.816 ( p < 0.001). A positive correlation between the eight- and four-item MMAS was found ( r = 0.792; p < 0.01). A significant relationship between MMAS categories and HbA1c categories ( χ2 = 20.261; p ≥ 0.001) was found. The MMAS sensitivity and specificity, with positive and negative predictive values were 77.61%, 45.37%, 46.84% and 76.56%, respectively. Conclusions The findings of this validation study indicate that the Malaysian version of the MMAS is a reliable and valid measure of medication adherence which can now be used.