The Allocation of Treatment Responsibility scale: A novel tool for assessing patient and caregiver management of pediatric medical treatment regimens

The purpose of the current study is to report preliminary psychometric properties of the ATR scale, a brief measure of the distribution of treatment tasks across the family members of children with a kidney transplant. Pediatric patients with renal transplants (ages 7-18 yr) and their caregivers completed the ATR and measures of adherence and family functioning. Internal consistency for the ATR (total score and subscales) was strong (range α = 0.75-0.93). Validity for the ATR was supported by significant correlations between the ATR caregiver total score of patient responsibility and patient age, as well as the ATR caregiver total score of patient responsibility and adherence. The ATR scale is a promising new tool for assessing the distribution of medical regimen tasks between patients and their caregivers. The availability of a standardized measure of ATR could assist in monitoring patient preparation for transition and identifying factors contributing to non-adherence.