Medication information for Flemish inpatients with major depression: evaluation and construct validity of the Consumer Information Rating Form

P>Background and objectives: Evaluating the quality of written medication information is a major topic of concern when patient pamphlets are developed. The objective of this study is to evaluate a patient pamphlet on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) by calculating Flesch-Douma readability scores and by applying the Consumer Information Rating Form (CIRF) to Flemish inpatients with major depression taking SSRIs. Methods: The pamphlet was evaluated by calculating Flesch-Douma readability scores. The study enrolled patients with major depression taking SSRIs. Patient received a SSRI pamphlet and completed a self-administered structured questionnaire consisting of the adapted CIRF and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Construct validity was explored by means of factor analysis and Cronbach's alpha. Results and discussion: The Flesch-Douma readability scores showed that the pamphlet was easy to read, had much interest in the reader and was very popular. The sample of 96 patients consisted of doubtful/definite cases in terms of anxiety (10 center dot 65 +/- 4 center dot 90) and doubtful cases in terms of depression (8 center dot 91 +/- 5 center dot 23). Using the CIRF, patients assigned positive scores to comprehensibility, utility and design quality of the pamphlet. Factor analysis on the original CIRF confirmed the three original factors (P < 0 center dot 001). Cronbach's alpha of factors ranged from 0 center dot 69 to 0 center dot 83. Conclusion: The SSRI pamphlet is of good quality. Our study supported the construct validity of the CIRF to Flemish inpatients with major depression.