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. 2023 Mar 13;11(6):846.
doi: 10.3390/healthcare11060846.

Italian Translation and Validation of the Original ABC Taxonomy for Medication Adherence

Sara Mucherino  1 , Marina Maffoni  2 , Clara Cena  3 , Lucrezia Greta Armando  3 , Marta Guastavigna  4 , Valentina Orlando  1 , Giancarlo Orofino  4 , Sara Traina  3 , Anna Giardini  5 , Enrica Menditto  1 , The Collaborative Working Group
Affiliations

Italian Translation and Validation of the Original ABC Taxonomy for Medication Adherence

Sara Mucherino et al. Healthcare (Basel). .

Abstract

Medication adherence represents a complex and multifaceted process. Standardized terminology is essential to enable a reproducible process in various languages. The study's aim was to translate and adapt the original Ascertaining Barriers for Compliance (ABC) Taxonomy on medication adherence, first proposed in 2012, into Italian language. The study was carried out according to the Preferred Methods for Translation of the ABC Taxonomy for Medication Adherence adopted by the ESPACOMP. Key steps included: (1) a systematic literature review using PubMed and Embase according to the PRISMA Guidelines to identify published Italian terms and definitions, and Italian adherence experts; (2) a forward translation of terms and definitions; (3) panelists' selection; (4) a three-round Delphi survey. From the systematic review, 19 studies allowed detection of 4 terms, 4 definitions and 767 Italian experts. To these, Italian ESPACOMP members and experts though snowball sampling were added. The identified Italian adherence experts received the Delphi questionnaire. The Italian ABC Taxonomy was achieved after three rounds of Delphi survey by reaching at least a moderate consensus on unambiguous naming and definition of medication adherence-related terms. The Taxonomy is intended to be used in research, academic, and professional fields in order to harmonize adherence terminology and avoid confusion in comparing research findings.

Keywords: ABC taxonomy; Adherence experts; Delphi method; Italian translation; Medication adherence.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Key steps of the study process.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Identification process of Italian experts in Adherence research field.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Professional field of the Italian-speaking experts in Rounds 1, 2, and 3.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Preferred Italian terms per Delphi round with the number of proposed items in the icon (numbers in the boxes are representing the amount of different translations proposed for each round).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Preferred Italian definitions per Delphi round with the number of proposed items in the icon (numbers in the boxes are representing the amount of different translations proposed for each round).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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