title: The eight-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale MMAS: translation and validation of the Malaysian version.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To translate and examine the psychometric properties of the Malaysian version of the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS) among patients with type 2 diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A standard "forward-backward" procedure was used to translate MMAS into Malay language. It was later validated on a convenience sample of 223 type 2 diabetes outpatients between May and September 2009. Reliability was tested for internal consistency. Validity was confirmed using convergent and known group validity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Employing the recommended scoring method, the mean±SD of MMAS scores was 6.13±1.72. Moderate internal consistency was found (Cronbach's α=0.675), the test-retest reliability value was 0.816 (p<0.001). A positive correlation between the eight- and four-item MMAS was found (r=0.792; p<0.01). A significant relationship between MMAS categories and HbA1c categories (χ(2)=20.261; p≥0.001) was found. The MMAS sensitivity and specificity, with positive and negative predictive values were 77.61%, 45.37%, 46.84% and 76.56%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of this validation study indicate that the Malaysian version of the MMAS is a reliable and valid measure of medication adherence which can now be used.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Harith Kh
authors.initials: HKh
authors.lastname: Al-Qazaz
authors.forename: Mohamed A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hassali
authors.forename: Asrul A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Shafie
authors.forename: Syed A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Sulaiman
authors.forename: Shameni
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sundram
authors.forename: Donald E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Morisky
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007802:Language; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D044469:Racial Groups; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents