Validation of the Mini-LMQ

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Validation of a short form of the Living with Medicines Questionnaire (Mini-LMQ)

  • IRAS ID

    253434

  • Contact name

    Sarah Corlett

  • Contact email

    s.a.corlett@kent.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    University of Kent

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 8 months, 28 days

  • Research summary

    Patients’ experiences with using prescription medicines vary. Some have practical difficulties, or may worry about running out of their long term prescription medicines, while some have negative attitudes towards using medicines. Many people are concerned about side effects, and may be worry whether their medicine is working. Those who pay prescription charges, can be financially burdened. Individuals may find using multiple medicines to be a burden which could affect their quality of life, physical health, psychological wellbeing and social functioning.

    The Living with Medicines Questionnaire© (LMQ3), is a questionnaire which has been developed by us to explore people’s experiences of using medicines. However it is a 41 item questionnaire and many people have told us that it is too long. We have therefore developed a shorter questionnaire, the Mini-LMQ, which contains 8 questions, but we need to make sure it measures what we think it measures (validity test).

    To do this, we need a large sample of people to complete the LMQ3, the mini-LMQ and another existing questionnaires, which measures similar things; satisfaction with medicines. A group of students will ask adult patients in the out-patient pharmacy in Medway Hospital to complete the questionnaires while they wait for their prescription, or later at home. Participants will be given written information about the study and an envelope to return the questionnaire either directly to the student or in the post (freepost).

    We also would like to see whether people give the same responses over a short period of time (test-retest). Therefore we will ask participants if they would be willing to complete just the Mini-LMQ one week later. To do this we will request that they provide their name and postal address separately. All contact details for the second mailing provided will be stored securely and destroyed within one month.

  • REC name

    East Midlands - Nottingham 1 Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    18/EM/0295

  • Date of REC Opinion

    16 Oct 2018

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion