Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric evaluation of the urdu version of the morisky, greene, and levine medication adherence scale (MGLS-4) for major depressive disorder patients

In Pakistan, Major depressive disorder (MDD) contributes significantly to the mental health burden. It is crucial to understand patients’ medication adherence status for developing a strategy for improving adherence and treatment outcomes. Therefore, a valid and reliable tool in the local Urdu language is required. The Morisky, Greene, and Levine Medication Adherence Scale (MGLS-4) is a reliable, valid and straightforward instrument to assess medication-taking behavior. The valid and reliable Urdu translation of MGLS-4 can fill this gap within the local context. Therefore, the present study aims to validate the Urdu Morisky, Green and Levine Adherence Scale (UMGLS-4) for MDD patients. This was a quantitative, cross-sectional validation study for Pakistani MDD patients. Reliability was measured using Cronbach’s α and for test-retest reliability intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated. Validity was assessed through face validity, content validity, construct validity, and convergent validity with the Drug Attitude Inventory (DAI-10). Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were carried out to demonstrate adherence level and statistical significance, respectively. Linear regression was applied to find the association between the UGMLS-4 score and demographic characteristics. The UMGLS-4 demonstrated high reliability (Cronbach’s α = 0.829) and a significant strong ICC (x = 0.601, p