An evaluation of a medication management training programme for community mental health professionals; service user level outcomes: a cluster randomised controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
Antipsychotic treatment is important in reducing symptomatology and relapse in schizophrenia. Community mental health professionals (CMHPs) have a significant role in this treatment; however, evidence suggests that many are ineffective in medication management.


OBJECTIVE
To develop and evaluate a medication management training programme whose aims are to increase the effectiveness of pharmacological treatment and increase services users' involvement in treatment decisions.


METHODS
Twenty-eight pairs of CMHPs were recruited from mental health Trusts in England. For each practitioner an average of 3.4 service users were randomly selected for their 'study caseload'.


METHODS
A pragmatic cluster randomised trial assessed the service users of CMHPs allocated to medication management training or waiting list controls.


METHODS
All practitioner participants were taught to use a variety of assessment measures and undertook baseline assessments with their service users. The experimental practitioners then attended the training programme. At the 9-month endpoint the service users were re-assessed.


RESULTS
After the outcome data was adjusted for clustering the trained practitioners made significant improvements in global psychopathology and service user involvement in treatment when compared to controls at 9 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Training CMHPs in medication management has a positive impact on clinical outcomes and service user involvement in treatment.
Harris
Neil
N
Manchester Mental Health & Social Care Trust, University of Manchester, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, United Kingdom. nr.harris@manchester.ac.uk
Lovell
Karina
K
Day
Jennifer
J
Roberts
Christopher
C
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D000078329:Workforce
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents