title: Medication health literacy measure: development and psychometric properties.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Low levels of health literacy are prevalent worldwide. This report details development and psychometric properties of a health literacy measure for oral medications based on design of the Newest Vital Sign.
  
  
  METHODS
  The measure was completed during the baseline interview. A principal components analysis evaluated dimensionality of the measure. Cronbach's alpha assessed subscale internal consistencies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Internal consistencies and reliability for the subscales were acceptable for a new instrument (alpha = .661, alpha = .686, alpha = .400). A 3-factor structure explained 65.34% of the total variance. Divergent validity with the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM) was established.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data indicates that the medication health literacy tool is multidimensional, valid, and reliable. This information is important in light of emerging evidence of the impact of health literacy on medication adherence and health.
authors.forename: Carol S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Stilley
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Terhorst
authors.forename: William B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Flynn
authors.forename: Roberta M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Fiore
authors.forename: Erin D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Stimer
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D057220:Health Literacy / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010414:Pennsylvania; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016903:Drug Monitoring
chemical_list: D055553:Prescription Drugs