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Development and validation of the medication regimen complexity index.
Johnson George1, Yee-Teng Phun, Michael J Bailey
1Department of Pharmacy Practice, Victorian College of Pharmacy, Monash University, Parkville, Australia.
The Annals of Pharmacotherapy
|July 22, 2004
Summary
A new tool, the Medication Regimen Complexity Index (MRCI), reliably measures drug regimen complexity. This validated index can be used in clinical practice and research to assess medication management.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Medication regimen characteristics significantly impact patient outcomes.
- A validated tool for quantifying general medication regimen complexity was previously unavailable.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a comprehensive tool for assessing prescribed medication regimen complexity.
Main Methods:
- Developed a tool based on literature review and expert consensus.
- Validated the tool using face, content, criterion-related, and construct validity assessments.
- Assessed inter-rater and test-retest reliability on 134 medication regimens from COPD patients.
Main Results:
- A 65-item Medication Regimen Complexity Index (MRCI) was created.
- The MRCI demonstrated strong agreement with expert rankings and correlated highly with the number of drugs.
- High inter-rater and test-retest reliabilities (≥0.9) were confirmed for the MRCI.
Conclusions:
- The Medication Regimen Complexity Index (MRCI) is a reliable and valid instrument.
- The MRCI has significant potential for application in both clinical practice and research settings.