Creation and preliminary validation of the screening for self-medication safety post-stroke scale (S-5).
OBJECTIVE
Patients with stroke should be screened for safety prior to starting a self-medication regime. An extensive literature review revealed no standardized self-medication tool tailored to the multi-faceted needs of the stroke population. The aim of this study was to create and validate a condition-specific tool to be used in screening for self-medication safety in individuals with stroke.


METHODS
Items were generated using expert consultation and review of the existing tools. The draft tool was pilot-tested on expert stroke clinicians to receive feedback on content, clarity, optimal cueing and domain omissions. The final version was piloted on patients with stroke using a structured interviewer-administered interview.


RESULTS
The tool was progressively refined and validated according to feedback from the 11 expert reviewers. The subsequent version was piloted on patients with stroke. The final version includes 16 questions designed to elicit information on 5 domains: cognition, communication, motor, visual-perception and, judgement/executive function/self-efficacy.


CONCLUSIONS
The Screening for Safe Self-medication post-Stroke Scale (S-5) has been created and validated for use by health professionals to screen self-medication safety readiness of patients after stroke. Its use should also help to guide clinicians' recommendations and interventions aimed at enhancing self-medication post-stroke.
Kaizer
Franceen
F
Jewish Rehabilitation Hospital, Laval, Canada.
Kim
Angela
A
Van
My Tram
MT
Korner-Bitensky
Nicol
N
D000368:Aged; D003071:Cognition; D006801:Humans; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000523:psychology; D008568:Memory; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012449:Safety; D012646:Self Administration / Q000592:standards*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires