Medication-therapy-related Quality of Life Measurement Using the Patient- Genrated Index: a Pilot Study

The study aimed to measure medication-therapy-related quality of life (MTRQoL) using the individualized approach – Patient-generated Index (PGI). Twenty-five patients were identified at the Medication Therapy Management Clinic of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok between September 2010 and March 2011. The PGI method included three steps: 1) select five domains affected by taking medication from the list of 24 domains; 2) rate each of the selected five domains on a scale ranging from 0 (the worst status) to 100 (the best status); and3) distribute 10 points across the different selected domains patients wished to improve. Weighted scores were summed up across the domains to create a 0-1 index, with higher scores indicating a better MTRQoL. The results showed patients’ mean age was 56.9±13.5 years and 52% were female. The MTRQoL index score was 0.57±0.24. Top 5 selected domains (≥50%) were getting medication information, fear of medication side-effects, security/safety in life, medication dependence, and pain/discomfort. The MTRQoL measurement using the PGI proved to be useful. Drug therapy reduced patients’ QOL by 40% from their normal lives. The most affected MTRQoL domains identified will be beneficial for the development of a future questionnaire.