The Medication Adherence Report Scale (MARS-5) in a Swedish sample with bipolar disorder - a pilot study

Main Article Content

Annika Bäck
Karolina Andersson Sundell
Robert Horne
Mikael Landén
Ann-Charlotte Mårdby

Abstract

Objectives: To test the acceptability and reliability of the Swedish translation of the Medication Adherence Report Scale-5 (MARS-5) in a sample of patients who use mood stabilising medicines for bipolar disorder. A further aim was to compare the Swedish translation of the MARS-5 with the Swedish translation of the four-item scale Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-4).Method: The study population (n=47, 70% women) was recruited through patient education sessions, at a Patient Association meeting, in Gothenburg, Sweden, as well as through advertisements on the home pages and newsletters of the Swedish patient associations. Participants received the Swedish translations of the MARS-5 and the MMAS-4, and questions on age, education, and country of birth. Reliability was examined for internal consistency (Cronbach’s α) and test-retest (intraclass correlation (ICC), MARS-5: Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r), MMAS-4: Spearman’s rho (ρ)). The acceptability of the MARS-5 was examined with a correlation analysis between the MARS-5 and the MMAS-4 and for face validity.Results: In the study population 53.3% were categorised as adherent with the MARS-5 and 82.6% using the MMAS-4. The value of Cronbach’s α was 0.66 for the MARS-5 and 0.37 for the MMAS-4. The test-retest of the MARS-5 resulted in r=0.90 and ICC=0.91. Corresponding values for the MMAS-4 were ρ=0.84 and ICC=0.85. The correlation between the MARS-5 and the MMAS-4 was 0.55. The face validity resulted in four comments regarding difficulties in answering the MARS-5.Conclusion: The Swedish translation of the MARS-5 ought to be used instead of the MMAS-4 to measure self-reported adherence in a Swedish sample with bipolar disorder. The MARS-5 showed good psychometric properties.

Article Details

Section
Regular Articles
Author Biographies

Annika Bäck, Social Medicine, Department of Public Health and Community Medicine at Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg

Professional rank: Research AssistantAcademic rank: MSc

Karolina Andersson Sundell, Nordic School of Public Health

Professional rank: Associate ProfessorAcademic rank: MPharmSc, PhD

Robert Horne, Center for Behavioural Medicine, the School of Pharmacy, University of London

Professional rank: ProfessorAcademic rank: BSc MSc PhD MRPharm

Mikael Landén, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry at Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg

Professional rank: ProfessorAcademic rank: MD PhD

Ann-Charlotte Mårdby, Social Medicine, Department of Public Health and Community Medicine at Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg

Professional rank: LecturerAcademic rank: Pharmacist, MSc, PhD

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