THE EFFECTS OF A RELATIONAL REGULATION PROGRAM ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF PATIENTS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA

Abstract

               Objective: The aim was to compare the quality of life of patients with schizophrenia before and after experiencing the relational regulation program, and to compare the quality of life between patients participating in this program and those receiving regular nursing intervention.

               Methods: The samples were fifty-two patients with schizophrenia aged 20 to 59 years, all recruited from Bhuddasothorn Hospital in Thailand and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups of twenty-six each. The experimental group participated in the relational regulation program, six sessions twice weekly for 90-minute sessions for three weeks. The control group received regular nursing intervention. Data were collected using the quality of life Measurement of Psychiatric Patients, with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.87. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, including percentage, mean, standard deviation, and t-test.

               Results: The results included: 1) the mean score for the quality of life among the patients with schizophrenia after participating in the relational regulation program (mean = 76.61, SD = 4.39) was statistically significantly higher than before participating in the program (mean = 62.26, SD = 5.27), (t = 11.74, p <.001), and 2) the mean difference for the quality of life among the patients with schizophrenia participating in the relational regulation program ( = 14.35, SD = 0.88) was statistically significant greater than the mean difference for the quality of life among the patients with schizophrenia receiving the regular nursing intervention ( = 7.12, SD = 1.48), (t = 4.921, p <.001).

               Conclusion: A relational regulation program applying the concept of relational regulation which has 6 main components can promote quality of life for schizophrenic patients. Therefore, the implementation of the program should be encouraged to improve the quality of life of schizophrenic patients, leading to a normal life.