Development and preliminary evaluation of the Conventional Medicine Disclosure Index

Erica McIntyre; Hope Foley; Joanna Harnett; Jon Adams; Amie Steel

doi:10.1016/j.sapharm.2021.01.015

Development and preliminary evaluation of the Conventional Medicine Disclosure Index

Res Social Adm Pharm. 2021 Oct;17(10):1791-1799. doi: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2021.01.015. Epub 2021 Jan 31.

Authors

Erica McIntyre¹, Hope Foley², Joanna Harnett³, Jon Adams⁴, Amie Steel⁵

Affiliations

¹ School of Public Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Australia; Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Australia. Electronic address: erica.mcintyre@uts.edu.au.
² School of Public Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Australia. Electronic address: hope.m.foley@student.uts.edu.au.
³ School of Public Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Australia; The University of Sydney School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: joanna.harnett@sydney.edu.au.
⁴ School of Public Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Australia. Electronic address: jon.adams@uts.edu.au.
⁵ School of Public Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Australia. Electronic address: amie.steel@uts.edu.au.

PMID: 33558156
DOI: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2021.01.015

Abstract

Background: Non-disclosure of conventional medicine use to complementary medicine health professionals may result in patient harm. Currently, no standardised validated instrument is available to measure reasons for conventional medicine disclosure or non-disclosure.

Objective: The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate a multidimensional index for identifying reasons for conventional medicine disclosure and non-disclosure by patients.

Methods: Drawing upon a sub-sample of the Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use Health Literacy Disclosure Study (N = 520), a formative measurement approach was used to develop a Conventional Medicine Disclosure Index (CONMED-DI). Variance-based structural equation modelling employing partial least squares evaluated multicollinearity, significance and relevance of the formative indicators to their associated primary constructs.

Results: The CONMED-DI demonstrated adequate construct validity suggesting the CONMED-DI is a pragmatic measure to determine the reasons why people choose to disclose (or not) their conventional medicine use. The CONMED-DI contains 2 second-order measurement models, both with three sub-domains.

Conclusion: The CONMED-DI serves as a preliminary instrument primarily of value to researchers interested in exploring the complementary medicine clinical encounter. The development of targeted interventions that promote disclosure of conventional medicine can be facilitated through understanding patients' reasons for disclosure and non-disclosure and optimise patients' safe use of medicines.

Keywords: Communication barriers; Complementary medicine; Disclosure; Instrument development; Patient communication; Pharmaceutical dugs.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Complementary Therapies*
Disclosure
Health Literacy*
Health Personnel
Humans