Treatment adherence in Schizophrenia: Consensus of nurse practitioners in mental health

Abstract

Objective. Establish a Spanish Consensus on nurse care to increase therapeutic compliance in schizophrenia.

Material and methods. An experts committee designed a specific questionnaire having 43 questions. The questions referred to the definition and general assessment of compliance in schizophrenia, factors involved, intervention strategies in outpatients/inpatients and management of long duration injectable antipsychotic drugs a. First, second or third line strategy values of choice were assigned according to the answers obtained for each item. The questionnaire was sent to 160 nurse practitioners. The answers were received with an online electronic system that guaranteed their confidentiality.

Results and conclusions. There is maximum agreement on considering the seriousness of the compliance problem, its repercussion in relapses, the patient’s course and increase in health care costs. The strategies preferred to evaluate compliance are: counting of the injectable drug administration and clinical assessment. The work group considers that specific intervention is necessary when the patient has already suffered several relapses due to low therapeutic compliance or when null awareness of disease is detected. The promotion of positive patient behaviours on treatment and the patient awareness development about treatment compliance importance are the nurse practitioners favourite strategies to reduce the relapses caused by poor adherence.