The effect of phone problem solving intervention to medication adherence of schizophrenia diagnosed individuals

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the effect of "Telephone Intervention Problem Solving" on medication adherence in individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia. Method: A total of 45 patients with schizophrenia, 21 interventions and 24 controls, were enrolled in this randomized controlled trial conducted by using the pretest posttest method. Data were collected through using the Personal Information Form, Schedule for Assesing the Three Components of Insight, The Global Assessment of Functioning Scale, Medication Adherence Rating Scale, and Final Assessment Form. Both groups were given "Training for Medication Adherence" prior to discharge. After the discharge, control group was cared with routine application, while over the course of two months, a total of eight follow-up calls were made by using "Telephone Intervention Problem Solving" on for intervention group. The data were evaluated by using nonparametric tests. Results: It is found out that after the study, not quitting taking drugs voluntarily (p<0.001), and the rate of believing in the necessity of drug treatment were increased in the intervention group (p=0.008), which was statistically significantly higher than the control group. The Medication Adherence Rating Scale score of the intervention group increased (p<0.001), but the score of the control group decreased (p=0.001). The scale score of the intervention group was found to be higher than the control group (p<0.001). Conclusion: This study has shown that telephone intervention problem solving has positive effects on drug use characteristics and medical compliance with medication of schizophrenia patients. Besides, it has been a guide for transferring the phone to the clinical applications of psychiatric nursing Keywords: telenursing, telephone, medication adherence, schizophrenia, problem solving