Development and validation of the HIV Medication Readiness Scale

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Public Health
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Optimal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment success necessitates excellent medication adherence (>95%).
• Assessing psychological readiness is crucial for initiating and maintaining adherence to HIV medications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a brief scale, the HIV Medication Readiness Scale (HMRS), for assessing psychological readiness to start and adhere to HIV medications.
• To evaluate the psychometric properties and clinical utility of the HMRS.

Main Methods:

• The 10-item HMRS was administered to 142 HIV-positive adults prior to initiating HIV therapy.
• Internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and sensitivity to change after a psychoeducational intervention were assessed.
• Predictive validity was examined by correlating HMRS scores with 1-month treatment adherence.

Main Results:

• The HMRS demonstrated high internal consistency (alpha = .90) and test-retest reliability (r = .83).
• The scale showed sensitivity to change following a psychoeducational intervention.
• Higher HMRS scores at baseline predicted greater treatment adherence at 1-month follow-up.

Conclusions:

• The HMRS is a brief, reliable, and valid tool for assessing readiness for HIV medication adherence.
• This scale can identify individuals with HIV who may benefit from targeted counseling to improve adherence.
• The HMRS supports clinical efforts to enhance treatment outcomes for people living with HIV.