Table 2.
Final structure of the MEQ and item-scale Pearson correlations from the multitrait analysis
| Dimension | Item label | Pearson correlationsa | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean (SD) score | Benefits | Convenience | Drivers of non-compliance | Negative feelings | My opinion about my care | ||
| Benefits | 71.6 (16.3) | MTX improves the symptoms of my arthritis | 0.79 | 0.32 | 0.24 | 0.38 | 0.19 |
| I am sure that MTX is helping me | 0.76 | 0.29 | 0.20 | 0.39 | 0.20 | ||
| The Benefits last until the next dose | 0.69 | 0.25 | 0.30 | 0.36 | 0.15 | ||
| MTX meets my expectations because it works fast each time I take it | 0.71 | 0.24 | 0.27 | 0.40 | 0.17 | ||
| I believe MTX is helping me control my arthritis in the long-term | 0.64 | 0.28 | 0.19 | 0.41 | 0.17 | ||
| Each time I take MTX, it works quickly | 0.66 | 0.27 | 0.28 | 0.33 | 0.13 | ||
| MTX meets my expectations because it helps relieve my arthritis symptom | 0.65 | 0.23 | 0.29 | 0.45 | 0.17 | ||
| Convenience | 89.6 (13.8) | MTX is easy for me to take | 0.31 | 0.74 | 0.28 | 0.29 | 0.01 |
| The number of times I have to take MTX is easy for me to remember | 0.34 | 0.71 | 0.35 | 0.22 | 0.08 | ||
| MTX is part of my weekly routine | 0.24 | 0.65 | 0.31 | 0.15 | 0.10 | ||
| MTX is affordable for me | 0.22 | 0.49 | 0.26 | 0.17 | −0.02 | ||
| Drivers of non-compliance | 93.4 (9.0) | When the symptoms of my arthritis improve, I skip taking MTX | 0.09 | 0.24 | 0.37 | 0.12 | 0.02 |
| I postpone taking MTX, depending on the activities that I have planned | 0.20 | 0.23 | 0.43 | 0.33 | 0.14 | ||
| When I am sick, I skip taking MTX | 0.25 | 0.18 | 0.35 | 0.19 | 0.04 | ||
| When I am preoccupied or have many things on my mind, I forget to take MTX | 0.19 | 0.31 | 0.44 | 0.26 | 0.15 | ||
| I skip taking MTX because of its side effects | 0.18 | 0.11 | 0.31 | 0.22 | 0.15 | ||
| When I go on a trip, I forget to take MTX with me | 0.15 | 0.17 | 0.26 | 0.05 | 0.04 | ||
| I need to be reminded to take MTX | 0.20 | 0.24 | 0.31 | 0.18 | 0.13 | ||
| Negative feelings | 62.0 (21.7) | I am worried about the other problems (side effects) that MTX might cause me | 0.38 | 0.18 | 0.23 | 0.60 | 0.27 |
| I am tired of taking MTX | 0.41 | 0.22 | 0.31 | 0.54 | 0.26 | ||
| I have too many medications to take for my arthritis | 0.39 | 0.22 | 0.22 | 0.49 | 0.24 | ||
| My opinion about my care | 82.2 (24.5) | My doctor involves me in decisions about my arthritis treatment | 0.18 | 0.08 | 0.10 | 0.24 | 0.45 |
| I have enough information about MTX | 0.18 | −0.01 | 0.17 | 0.31 | 0.45 | ||
| General Experience with MTX | 77.7 (23.2) | Given my experience with MTX, I would prefer to continue taking it | – | – | – | – | – |
Correlations indicating that items did not meet item convergent validity criterion are indicated in italics
Correlations indicating that items met item divergent validity criterion are indicated in bold
aMultitrait analysis performed only on multi-item dimensions