[The relationship between medication adherence and rehospitalization: a prospective study of schizophrenia patients discharged from psychiatric acute wards].

BACKGROUND

Antipsychotics have been regarded as the most effective therapy for schizophrenia; however, Taiwan's non-adherence rate for prescribed antipsychotics of 50-80% is an important issue that relates directly and significantly to schizophrenia patient relapse rates.

PURPOSE

This study examines the correlational and predictive relationships between medication adherence and rehospitalization in schizophrenia patients discharged from an acute ward.

METHODS

This study used a prospective research design. Schizophrenia patients discharged from a psychiatric acute ward who stated their plan to live in the community were recruited as participants. Participant medication adherence was assessed via home visits during the 6-month follow-up period using scales including the Medication Adherence Questionnaire (MAQ), drug attitudes, and regimen knowledge. Rehospitalization data were retrieved from electronic medical records. Relationships between medication adherence and rehospitalization were analyzed using t-tests and regression analysis.

RESULTS

Seventy-seven patients with schizophrenia discharged from the acute ward were recruited in accordance with sampling criteria. The majority were male, young, unmarried, had poorer global function, had 12 years of education, and were not rehospitalized during the past 6-month period. Using binomial regression analysis, we found the relative risk for number of rehospitalizations during the 6-month period to be significantly less and the average scores for the total scale, attitude subscale, and knowledge subscale of medication adherence to have increased (0.194-0.79 times).

CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Our findings support that better medication adherence in people with schizophrenia decreases rehospitalization risk. We urge clinicians to develop sensitive interventions to promote antipsychotics adherence in this population.