The effects of psychoeducation program on medication adherence among patients with depression

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to ascertain the effects of a psychoeducation program on medication adherence among patients with depression. The samples consisted of 50 male and female patients, age 20-60, who sought treatment at the Mental Health Clinic at Thammasat University Hospital. They were selected according to the criteria and were randomly assigned to the study group and control group, 25 in each group.

Demographic data were collected and analysed using a Chi–square test and independent t-test. The Medical Adherence scores before and after participation in the program in the study and control groups were compared by controlling for the covariate variables such as length of illness, duration of treatment with medication, level of depression before the experiment, and the pretest medication adherence score by using ANCOVA.

The study revealed that the medication adherence scores in the patients with depression, who participated in the psychoeducation program were signifi cantly higher than those patients that received normal treatment and the medical adherence scores of the patients with depression that participated in the program after the experiment were signifi cantly higher than before the experiment.

The results of this study indicate that, the psychoeducation program can help to improving the level of medication adherence among depressive patients.

Key words: Psychoeducation program, Medication adherence, Depression