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

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.

Keywords

psychiatry - medication literacy - instrument properties

Publikationsverlauf

Eingereicht: 20. Juli 2024

Angenommen nach Revision: 07. April 2025

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
04. Juni 2025

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