Effectiveness of a Nurse-Led Psychoeducation Program on Medication Adherence Among Patients with Schizophrenia

Research Article

Abstract

Schizophrenia is a chronic psychiatric disorder requiring long-term pharmacological treatment. Poor medication adherence is a common challenge and is associated with relapse, rehospitalization, and poor quality of life. Psychoeducation programs led by nurses have been identified as an effective strategy to improve patients’ understanding of illness and adherence to medication. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a nurse-led psychoeducation program on medication adherence among patients with schizophrenia. A quasi-experimental pretest–posttest control group design was used. A total of 100 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia were selected from the psychiatric outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital and divided into experimental (n=50) and control (n=50) groups. The experimental group received a structured nurse-led psychoeducation program focusing on illness awareness, medication benefits, side-effect management, relapse prevention, and family support. The control group received routine care. Medication adherence was assessed using the Medication Adherence Rating Scale (MARS). The mean adherence score in the experimental group increased from 4.2±1.5 to 8.3±1.2 after the intervention, while the control group showed only a slight improvement from 4.4±1.6 to 5.6±1.4. The difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). The findings suggest that nurse-led psychoeducation significantly improves medication adherence among patients with schizophrenia. Incorporating psychoeducation into routine psychiatric nursing care can enhance treatment outcomes and reduce relapse rates.