Testing a medicine information needs identification tool (MINI‐Q) with hospital inpatients in New Zealand

Abstract Background Determining an individual's medicines information preferences and needs could enable health professionals to deliver more effective help build patients' literacy ability self‐manage their health. Aim This descriptive, cross‐sectional study aimed test a new assessment tool, the Medicine Information Needs for Individuals – Questionnaire (MINI‐Q), which elicits what individuals want know about medicines. explore face validity, acceptability, feasibility of using tool in hospital inpatient setting. Method Ethical approval was obtained from Health Disability Ethics Committees (Reference no: 18/NTA/137). Following ethical approval, adult inpatients two service divisions one large urban New Zealand were invited self‐assess 23‐item MINI‐Q via tablet or on paper. Descriptive statistics generated quantitative data responses free‐text question inductively analysed. Results The completed by 228 inpatients, 137 (60%) whom used tablet. Participants requested 80.6% possible topics. most common topic that participants wanted side effects (92%). No additional topics include identified responses. median completion time version 9.2 min (interquartile range 6.7–14.6). Conclusion shows promise efficiently identify findings reinforce people all basic medicines, with being particularly important.