Medication Compliance among Discharged Psychiatric Patients

Abstract

This study was designed to answer the following questions: (1) Among recently discharged psychiatric patients was medication compliance influenced by the locus-of-control orientation held by the patient? (2) Would the recently discharged psychiatric patients be more compliant in taking their medications if they placed a high value on health? (3) Would discharged clients be more compliant in taking medications if they received patient education than if they did not, and would medication compliance increase if patients' education were congruent with their locus-of-control orientation. A sample of 33 patients discharged from inpatient care and receiving an oral form of a major tranquilizer participated. Subjects were assigned to three groups: a control group, a nondirective patient-education group, and a directive patient-education group. Rotter's I-E Scale and Health Value Survey were administered. Percentage of medication compliance was determined. The percentage of medication compliance among recently discharged psychiatric patients was not influenced by the patients' locus-of-control orientation. Subjects who placed a high value on health were more compliant than those who placed a low value on health. The difference in percentage of compliance was not statistically significant in relation to the patient education method.