Social Support for Medication Adherence among Thai People with Post-Acute Myocardial Infarction: Factor Analysis

Abstract

Background:The aim of this study was to modify the Enhancing Recovery in Coronary Heart Disease (ENRICHD) Social Support Instrument (ESSI) in order to obtain assessment of social support for medication, because, whereas ESSI assesses general social support, a specific tool is needed for assessing social support for medication adherence, including assessment of the validity and reliability of this adapted version of the questionnaire.

Methods: Responses to the 12-item modified version of ESSI were collected from 348 Thais with postacute myocardial infarction. None of 12-items violated any assumption for the factor analysis. The appropriateness of data for factor analysis was tested and then factor analysis was performed.

Results: Factor analysis comprised two components for determining the social support for medication adherence: the emotional and information support (nine items; items 1, 2,3,4,5,6,7,8, and 9) and the instrumental and appraisal support (three items; item 9, 10, and 12). The instrument used showed adequate validity and reliability.

Conclusion: The modified ESSI showed acceptable validity and reliability. This instrument may be used to evaluate social support for adherence to medications among Thais with post-acute myocardial infarction.