Instruments Assessing Medication Literacy in Psychiatric Patients and the Caregivers: A Systematic Review

 

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Abstract

This systematic review investigates the instruments measuring medication literacy (ML) in psychiatric patients and their caregivers. Despite the critical role of ML in ensuring adherence to medication regimens, especially in populations with mental health conditions, existing instruments lack comprehensive validation of their measurement properties. This review identifies and assesses four instruments designed for psychiatric populations based on COSMIN guidelines. The findings reveal significant gaps in the validity and reliability of these tools. The review underscores the necessity for developing new, robust ML instruments tailored to people with mental illnesses and their caregivers to enhance clinical practice and patient outcomes. The results help to inform future psychiatry research and its clinical applications, promoting better medication management and improving adherence towards overall management in psychiatric care settings.

Publication History

Received: 20 July 2024

Accepted after revision: 07 April 2025

Article published online:
04 June 2025

© 2025. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

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