Background: The success of medication treatment is dependent on a patient’s adherence to the medication regimen and non-adherence amongst psychiatric patients is associated with poor clinical outcomes and high resource utilization. This study aimed to assess the effect of psycho- educational program for the schizophrenic patients on their adherence to antipsychotic medication. Research hypothesis: The psycho- educational program will have a positive effect for schizophrenic patients on their adherence to antipsychotic medication. Design: quasi-experimental design (one group pre test -post test design) was utilized to achieve the aim of the study. Setting: The study was conducted in psychiatric inpatient ward at psychiatric and mental health hospital in Benha City. Subjects: A convenience sample of a total 40 male patients suffering from schizophrenia who are hospitalized in psychiatric and mental health hospital Tools of Data Collection: The following tools were used for data collection Tool (1): Structured Interview Questionnaire, Tool (2): Clinical characteristics of the studied patients Tool (3): Personal Evaluations of Transitions in Treatment was adopted by (Voruganti and Awad, 2002): Tool (4): Clinician Rating Scale was adopted by (Kemp et al, 1998). The main findings of the study were: There are highly statistically significant differences between pre and post program regarding to Level of adherence of medication. Conclusion: Based on the findings of the present study, it is concluded that psycho-educational program had appositive effect for schizophrenic patients on their adherence to antipsychotic medication. Recommendations: Programs should be designed by psychiatric hospital through health care provider for increasing awareness of clients about their illness and medication adherence to decrease the relapse rate and frequent hospitalization. |
