Improving compliance in Xhosa psychiatric patients.
Compliance with psychotropic medication is particularly poor in Xhosa psychiatric patients. A study demonstrated that explicit and repeated verbal and written instructions did not increase compliance with oral medication, but that a single home visit, limited to giving instructions about medication, almost doubled the compliance rate (to 65%). Similar increases also occurred in relation to intramuscular medication and clinic attendance. The most common reason for noncompliance was found to be resistance to, or plain ignoring of, what was actually known (64%). Several possible reasons for this are proposed, the most significant being the patients' cultural and social attitudes and belief system. Recommendations for increasing compliance are given.
MRC Clinical Psychiatry Research Unit, University of Cape Town.
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Gillis
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Koch
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Joyl
D001741:Black or African American; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D044383:Black People; D006792:House Calls; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013019:South Africa
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs