title: Developing a tool to measure contributions to medication-related processes in family practice.
abstract: Successful team care requires a shared understanding of roles and expertise. This paper describes the development and preliminary exploration of the psychometric properties of a tool designed to measure contributions to family practice medication-related processes. Our team identified medication-related processes commonly occurring in family practice. We assessed clinical appropriateness using a sensibility questionnaire and pilot-tested with 11 pharmacists, nurses and physicians. We performed a simulated exercise to group the processes and assessed the internal consistency of the groupings using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. We examined test-retest reliability using intra-class coefficient (ICC). Following three revisions, the final Medication Use Processes Matrix (MUPM) included 22 medication-related processes and scale descriptors reflecting contribution to each process. Mean sensibility ratings were high for each component. We developed five theoretical groupings (diagnosis & prescribing, monitoring, administrative/documentation, education, medication review) and found their overall internal consistency was good (alpha > 0.80). The test-retest reliability was strong (ICC > 0.80). Preliminary validation showed significant differences in how health professionals view interprofessional contributions toward medication-related processes. Interprofessional care requires a negotiated understanding of processes and contributions. The MUPM provides an explicit description of medication-related processes in primary care, measures perceived contributions and emerges as a new tool to measure collaborative care in family practices.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Department, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada. bfarrell@scohs.on.ca
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Farrell
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pottie
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Woodend
authors.forename: Vivian Hua
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kennie
authors.forename: Connie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sellors
authors.forename: Carmel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dolovich
mesh_terms: D005194:Family Practice / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D054539:Medication Therapy Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009726:Nurses; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010595:Pharmacists; D010821:Physicians, Family; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011594:Psychometrics