A sequential multi-method approach using focus groups, individual interviews, and quantitative instrument development procedures was used to develop and evaluate a scale to measure patient trust in health care providers (HCPs). The resulting 15-item Health Care Relationship (HCR) Trust Scale was tested for internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and construct validity. The Cronbach alphas were .92 (time 1) and .95 (time 2), respectively. Test-retest reliability was .59 (p < .01). The HCR Trust Scale did not correlate with the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (r = .20, p = .07) or the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine scale (r = -.21, p = .13). Principal component factor analysis with varimax rotation revealed a three-factor solution that explained 69% of the estimated common variance in the HCR trust scale. Cronbach alphas for the 3 factors ranged from .81 to .89. Findings of this study support the use of the HCR Trust Scale for measuring trust in various HCPs by diverse patient populations. More work is needed to test the usefulness of the scale with a greater number of patients and in other chronic illness populations.

The purpose of this paper is to describe electronic monitoring device (EMD) (e.g., MEMS caps) use among HIV-infected adults enrolled in a randomized clinical trial and to make explicit some of the benefits and caveats of using electronic monitoring device technology. This is a descriptive, exploratory study of EMD use among 128 HIV-infected adults treated with at least three antiretroviral agents. Thirty-six percent of the sample admitted that they did not use the EMD consistently. Forty-one percent of the subjects reported taking out more than one dose at a time and 26% reported opening the EMD but not taking the medication. Special subject-related issues accounted for only a small percentage of all reported problems with EMD use (e.g., transient housing, incarceration, substance abuse relapse and drug treatment). Results of this study suggest that EMDs may underestimate antiretroviral adherence among HIV-infected adults. Recommendations for improving EMD data quality are presented.