A Study to Assess the Factors Affecting Medication Compliance among Patients with Schizophrenia in a Tertiary Health Care Centre

MethodsA cross-sectional non experimental descriptive design was adopted for this study. A systematic random sampling was applied for selection of samples. A socio-demographic questionnaire was designed and the association between socio-demographic profiles and compliance was assessed using statistical inferences. ROMI scale was used to find out the subjective reasons for both compliance and noncompliance. The Medication Adherence scale was used to assess fidelity to pharmacotherapy Background Schizophrenia is a severe form of mental illness affecting about 7 per 1000 adults globally. Approximately 80 % of patients relapse within 1 year if antipsychotic medications are stopped, whereas only 20 % relapse if treated. AimThe purpose of this study was to assess the factors affecting medication compliance and to understand the association of these factors with drug compliance in schizophrenic patients. ResultsThe compliance rate in this study was found to be 70 %. A significant association was found between compliance and patients belonging to joint family, patients with higher level of insight. The significant reasonsforcompliance as cited by patients are positive family belief, positive relation with the treating clinician, perceived daily benefits and relapse prevention. Whereas reasons for non-compliance are denial of illness, medication currently unnecessary, access to treatment, distressed by side effect, denial of illness and stigma faced by patients. ConclusionsFindings suggest that there is need to provide adequate information about mental illness and medications prescribed, and to develop effective interventional strategies for improving the compliance of the patients in the future.