The Hill-Bone Scales were developed with funds from the National Institutes of Health (NIH); therefore, they are available for use at no cost>; the scales are free.
These brief and validated scales provide a simple method for clinicians in various settings to assess patients’ self-reported adherence and researchers to assess patients’ adherence. Each scale can be self-administered or interviewer-administered in less than 5 minutes, thus making them ideal for clinical use.
Hypertension and Medication Adherence Scales
Hill-Bone Compliance to High Blood Pressure Therapy Scale
The Hill-Bone Compliance to High Blood Pressure Therapy Scale is one of two Hill-Bone Scales. This is the original, 14-item Hill-Bone Scale developed to assess patient behaviors for three important behavioral domains of high blood pressure treatment (the three sub-scales of the original scale): Appointment Keeping (3-items), Diet (2-items), Medication Adherence (9-items). The Compliance to High Blood Pressure Therapy Scale is now more commonly referred to as the Hypertension Adherence Scale. The original scale was developed in English; to our knowledge, it has been translated into more than nine other languages by users.
Hill-Bone Medication Adherence Scale
The Hill-Bone Medication Adherence Scale, formerly the medication sub-scale of the original Compliance to High Blood Pressure Therapy Scale, is the second Hill-Bone Scale.
We strongly encourage the use of the second scale, the Hill-Bone Medication Adherence Scale, in clinical settings. The Medication Adherence Scale is a 9-item scale with broad application across various chronic diseases and conditions for self-assessment of medication adherence. The Medication Adherence Scale is a useful instrument to measure adherence in patients with hypertension, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, , and stroke among others.
Use of a Hill-Bone scale at every healthcare visit is beneficial in planning and implementing effective, individualized care. Nurses, physicians, and community health workers in different settings will find the instrument useful as an assessment tool to guide counselling on treatment adherence to improve health outcomes.
To use a Hill-Bone scale, please click on the box below, Obtain the Scales. A new browser window will open with the Permission Request Form. Complete and submit the form, and you will receive the scale, the user manual, and the scoring guide.
To learn more about the scales, please click on the box below, About the Scales. To access the publication database, please click on the box below, Publications. There is also a page containing Frequently Asked Questions>; if you cannot find the answer you are looking for or require additional assistance, please Contact Us.
In this Section
About the Scales
Information about the development, validity, and utility of the High Blood Pressure Compliance Scale and the Medication Adherence Scale.
Publications
A dynamic database of research and publications that have used and/or referenced the Hill-Bone Scales.
FAQ’s
Frequently asked questions about the Hill-Bone Scales, such as permission to use the scale, administering the scale, scoring and coding criteria, translated versions, etc.
Obtain the Scales
To use one or both of the Hill-Bone Scales, complete the Permission Request Form and download the Scale, User Agreement, and Scoring Guide.
Translation
You may translate the Hill-Bone Scales for your use. You may also contact other researchers directly for permission to use their translated versions.
Questions – Contact Us
Questions? Please contact us.