Experience of Using Traditional Wisdom for Health Care among Patients with Schizophrenia

Abstract

Objective: This qualitative research explored the experiences of patients with schizophrenia using traditional wisdom for health care in Yangtalad District, Kalasin, Thailand. Methods: Edmund Husserl’s phenomenology was employed as the research approach. The participants were chosen by purposive sampling; 1) aged 18 years and above 2) had brief psychiatric rating scale scores ≤ 36 3) had experience of traditional wisdom for health care. Data collection was undertaken through in-depth interviews was by a semi-structured interview guide, non-participant observation, tape recorder and field notes. Each interview between 45-60 minutes. Data were analyzed using Colaizzi’s method. Results: After saturated data of 13 patients with schizophrenia, three themes were found reflecting health care experiences of using traditional wisdom: 1) psychiatric symptom treatment: take a holy bath, exorcise, and shaman; 2) mental health promotion: (1) make merit and (2) Bai Sri Su Kwan participation; and 3) mental illness prevention: (3.1) stress relaxation: watched traditional northeastern-style singer, pray Buddha, using Thai herbs, Thai massage, and traditional merit-making event participation; (3.2) avoidance of eating taboo foods. Conclusion: The study’s findings indicate that nurses should consider supporting patients with schizophrenia by using traditional wisdom as part of their healthcare practice. Moreover, the findings provide a basis for planning and developing health care programs using traditional wisdom among patients with schizophrenia with promoting the family, community and primary healthcare participation.