Treatment options to enhance medication adherence for people with schizophrenia living in the community.

Abstract

The aim of the study was to examine the best treatment option between depot and oral medication whether it enhances adherence for patient with schizophrenia living in the community. The question was completed using PICO guidelines. The articles were searched from the University of Malta databases. In total 18 articles were selected as fitting into the inclusion and exclusion criteria and being most relevant to the research question. Each article was criticised using the Morrison's approach (1991). The main findings of this study illustrate the role of the long-acting antipsychotics in relation to adherence. The results showed that with depot medication, compliance increases since medication is not taken every day and therefore, non-adherence could be tackled easily by community mental health nursing (CMHN). Moreover, adherence to medication was examined in relation to relapse, costs, patients' and CMHN's perspectives and maintaining independence. This review highlighted the importance of a nursepatient therapeutic relationship to adherence medications, with results showing that patients' decision could be influenced by the nurse. Various recommendations concerning management, research, education and practice were listed. Additionally, recommendations for further research about the antipsychotic medications and strategies to increase compliance are mentioned. Also, education for patients and relatives about the illness and medications is essential to aid an increase in compliance and prevent relapse. Through relapse, the costs increase due to rehospitalisation. Finally, various dissemination strategies were listed to implement the findings of this review.