Translation and validation of a Chinese version of the 8-item Morisky medication adherence scale in myocardial infarction patients

Rationale, aims and objectives Poor medication adherence is a major global public health challenge. A valid, reliable, cost-effective tool for measuring medication adherence would lead to a better understanding of non-adherence and lay the groundwork for interventions aimed at facilitating adherence to therapies. The aim of this study was to translate and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the 8-item Morisky medication adherence scale (C-MMAS-8) in Chinese myocardial infarction (MI) patients. Methods Psychometric testing of the C-MMAS-8 was conducted using a convenience sample of 176 MI patients recruited from four major hospitals in Guangzhou in southern China. Socio-demographic data, C-MMAS-8 and three subscales of the revised illness perception questionnaire (treatment control, personal control and illness coherence subscales) were administered to the MI patients. Thirty MI patients participated in a 4-week retest. Results The C-MMAS-8 demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.77) and test-retest reliability (r = 0.88, P < 0.001). Significant correlations with treatment control subscale (r = 0.32, P < 0.01), personal control subscale (r = 0.47, P < 0.01), and illness coherence subscale (r = 0.44, P < 0.01) of the revised illness perception questionnaire demonstrated good construct validity. Conclusions The psychometric properties of the C-MMAS-8 are satisfactory.