Development and Validation of Florida Pharmacists’ Knowledge Scale of Medicare Part D Pharmacist-Based Medication Therapy Management

Nova Southeastern University, Davie, Florida, USA

Objective: The aim of this study was to expand the theory of planned behavior model by adding knowledge construct to assess whether pharmacists’ overall knowledge level about MTM impacts the pharmacists’ perception to provide such services. Background: MTM model is required by the Medicare Modernization Act 2003 as one of the services that take care of the patients. Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010, there were significant changes in MTM programs through expanded requirements and improvement measures to further support MTM programs. Little is known about pharmacists’ knowledge of MTM after the changes that resulted from the ACA of 2010. Method: Knowledge scale was created after an intensive literature review. The scale was generated based on face and content validity and the reliability and internal consistency. The internal consistency was improved to purify the scale. The scale was reduced from 33 to 24 items; include background and process sub-dimensions. The “mock” survey was applied to third-year Pharm.D students at NSU using survey monkey. Result: Cronbach’s Alpha coefficients were 0.962 for the entire scale, 0.923 for the background subscale, and 0.947for the process subscale. The scale was assessed to understand the factors loadings of the knowledge scale. The results indicated 5-factor solution. Conclusion: This study is the first to identify construct of interest in assessing pharmacists’ knowledge regarding MTM services and offered evidence of the reliability of the scale. It is anticipated that the scale will be utilized to assess the change in knowledge level as MTM services expanded as results of ACA.