The effects of medication and symptom management education program based on self efficacy theory for the psychiatric patients.
OBJECTIVE
An effective rehabilitation program had been developed for psychiatric patients' self management of medication and symptoms in Korea. The rehabilitation program was designed to allow the patients to understand their illness, cope with their medical regimen, and prevent a relapse by recognizing any of the symptoms when they recur.


METHODS
The developed program utilizes the self efficacy method reported by Bandura, it includes manuals and videotapes focusing on real life situations, small group discussions, and telephone coaching. This study investigated the effects of this program with respect to various predictable variables in psychiatric rehabilitation. Thirty eight patients were selected for this study, 18 in the experimental program and 20 as controls.


RESULTS
The results showed that the subjects who attended this educational program reported significantly more improvement in attitude toward medication compliance (p=0.033), and significantly less relapse warning symptom scores (p=0.000) than the controls.


CONCLUSIONS
This program may be a useful psychoeducational resource for professionals in the field of clinical practice in psychiatry.
Department of Nursing, Dongeui University, Busan, Korea. khshon@dongeui.ac.kr
Kyung Hee
KH
Shon