Effect of the Motivational Enhancement Program to Strengthen Medication Adherence among Schizophrenic Outpatients at Psychiatric Unit, Warinchamrap Hospital

Abstract

          The quasi-experimental research, pre and post- test and a month follow-up, wasconducted to investigate the effect of the motivational enhancement on medication adherence among schizophrenic outpatients using the motivational concept for mental and behavioral improvement. The program included 4 times of group sessions for patients and one session of each patient with relative. The instruments used for evaluation were the medication adherence behavior test for schizophrenic patient and the Drug Attitude Inventory: DAI-10. The results demonstrated that there was a significant difference over time between the experimental and control groups. Obviously, the medication adherence behavior and drug attitude of the experimental group significantly increased after receiving the motivational enhancement program.The result also showed good results at a 1-month follow-up period, of both the medication adherence behavior and drug attitude of schizophrenic patients.The highlight of this program was the use of group activities and individual activities of patients with relatives, which did not spend much time and the personnel’s training was not difficult. This affects the cooperation of patients and good results in the treatment.