title: An evaluation of a medication management training programme for community mental health professionals; service user level outcomes: a cluster randomised controlled trial.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Manchester Mental Health & Social Care Trust, University of Manchester, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, United Kingdom. nr.harris@manchester.ac.uk
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Karina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lovell
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Day
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roberts
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents