The purpose of this before-after study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Japanese version of the Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS) and to analyze the impact of pharmacist counseling on decisional conflict for patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Internal consistency reliability was calculated. Multi-trait scaling and cluster analyses were performed to measure construct validity. In addition, decisional conflict in the patients infected with HIV was assessed before and after they received information from pharmacists. Data collected from 69 patients who were recommended a new anti-retroviral therapy were analyzed. A high degree of internal consistency was observed for the five subscales of the DCS (Cronbach's alpha = 0.78 - 0.90). Multi-trait scaling and cluster analyses indicated good construct validity. After the pharmacist counseling, the mean total DCS score decreased significantly (ie, from 46.3 to 26.5, P < 0.0001, paired t-test). Scores on all subscales of the DCS showed statistically significant improvement (Ps < 0.0001, paired t-test). This paper concludes that the Japanese version of the DCS is psychometrically sound for patients infected with HIV. Before initiating anti-retroviral therapy, these patients have high decisional conflict, which can be improved by pharmacist counseling.
